How To Cook Lentil Soup

Which Lentils To Use

How to Make Lentil Soup | Soup Recipe | Allrecipes.com

Green or brown lentils are the best choice for this soup. They have a mild, earthy flavor that slightly breaks apart when cooked, but still maintain their shape. Red lentils break down the fastest and become mushy. And French lentils are great for being tossed in a side dish or lentil salad as they have the firmest texture, but they require more time to cook in a soup.

The Steps For Making The Best Lentil Soup

Like quite a few of the soup recipes on Inspired Taste, this lentil soup is very simple to make. Lets quickly walk through the steps:

Step 1: Cook onions and carrots in a large pot until they begin to soften and are starting to smell sweet. If you have them in the fridge, celery or fennel would be lovely added to the pot, too.

Step 2: Stir in garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. I only cook the aromatics for 30 seconds or so. This short time allows the garlic and spices to warm up, which I think helps them release even more flavor to the soup.

Step 3: Rinse and pick through the lentils. I add the lentils dry to the pot, but before doing that, I make sure to rinse them under running water. I also quickly look through them to make sure anything that isnt a lentil is removed .

Step 4: Add the lentils and broth. With almost all the soup ingredients in the pot, I bring the soup to a simmer and cook, partially covered, until the lentils are soft. This takes 30 to 40 minutes.

Step 5: Taste and season the soup then stir in greens. Whether you use kale or spinach in the soup, you only need to cook them for a few minutes before serving.

Step 6: Add fresh lemon juice and fresh herbs. Just before serving, I squeeze lots of fresh lemon juice into the soup. This brightens all the flavors and really makes the soup taste fresh and fantastic. Fresh herbs like dill or parsley are also a nice touch.

Garnishes For Red Lentil Soup

This red lentil soup dish is scrumptious by itself, yet its a lot more best with a couple of garnishes. Belows what we such as:

Greek yogurt or sour lotion: This includes simply the ideal creaminess as well as an intense flavor: it takes this soup over the leading!

Cashew lotion: For a vegan variant, utilize vegan yogurt or cashew lotion.
Cilantro: A couple of fallen leaves of fresh cilantro makes the recipe! If youre a hater, attempt fresh parsley rather

How To Cook Red Lentils

I used all-natural red lentils that you can find here at our online shop. Generally, to cook red lentils you’ll use 1:3 ratio lentils to liquid, meaning 1 cup of dry lentils to 3 cups water or broth. You do not need to soak red lentils for any amount of time, because they’re split they are fast-cooking and require just a few simple steps. Here is what you do:

Rinse red lentils off in the water in a fine-mesh strainer or colander.
Add the lentils to a pot with water or broth. Make sure your pot is large enough, so it does not boil over.

Bring the pot to a boil, cover, and then reduce to a simmer. This will be on low heat.
Cook for 15 minutes or until tender.

Using water to cook the lentils is totally fine and works well. Water is particularly good when you want the flavor of the lentil neutral or the natural flavor to shine through.

But you can also use the cooking opportunity to infuse lots of flavors right into the lentils. You can do this by cooking them in a flavorful broth! You can use beef, chicken, veggie, or even bone broth for the liquid instead of water.

And, of course, we’re going the extra mile today and doing our red lentils up in a Greek-style red lentil soup!

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Easy Greek Red Lentil Soup

This creamy red lentil soup, prepared Greek-style, will surprise your taste buds in the best way possible! Red lentils, combined with onions, garlic, and sweet carrots in a tomato-based broth. Infused with cumin, oregano, and rosemary. Finished with a bright splash of lemon juice and fresh parsley. Keep it vegan, or add a sprinkle of salty feta, if you like.

Watch the video for how to make red lentil soup and read through for important tips below!

Instant Pot Lentil Soup Recipe Ingredients

Heres what youll need to make this Instant Pot lentil soup recipe:

Lentils, of course! French green lentils and regular green lentils both work well in this recipe, adding earthy flavor and plant-based protein.
Onion, garlic, carrot, and celery They add savory depth of flavor.
Kale Any variety works! Youll add the stems early in the cooking process and stir in the leaves right at the end.

Fire-roasted diced tomatoes For smoky, tangy flavor.
White wine vinegar It makes the soup nice and bright.
Ground cumin It brings out the earthiness of the lentils.

Fresh thyme It gives the soup fresh, aromatic depth of flavor.
Red pepper flakes For heat.
Vegetable broth Use store-bought, or make your own.

And sea salt and fresh black pepper To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

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Make Ahead And Storing

Lentil soup will keep well for up to four days in the fridge and in my opinion, gets better over time. You might find that the lentils absorb some of the extra liquid in the soup as it sits in the fridge. To bring it back to more of a soup-like consistency, simply add a splash of water or broth before reheating.

You can also freeze the soup. It should keep for several months. Simply defrost and reheat before serving.

Expert Tips And Tricks For The Perfect Lentil Soup Every Time

How to make Lentil Soup – Indian style Lentil Soup – Vegan Recipes – Lentil Vegetable Soup

Always choose broth. Lentil soup will feel like its missing something if you just use water. If you want to keep this vegetarian or vegan, swap the chicken stock for veggie broth.

Add meat if you like. This is a great chance to use up leftover ham or sausage!
Dont worry about soaking the lentils. Lentils do not require any soaking. But do remember to rinse and drain them well to remove any bits of dirt.

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How To Cook Lentil Soup In The Instant Pot

This easy lentil soup does require a little chopping on the front end, but once you have the ingredients prepped, it is completely hands off, especially if you make it in an Instant Pot.

I first discovered the beauty of Instant Pot lentils back when I made this Instant Pot Lentil Curry.

Although the total amount of time to cook lentils in an Instant Pot is pretty comparable to the time youd need on the stove, I find that the texture of the Instant Pot lentils is superior.

I love that I never need to check or stir the lentils the entire time the soup cooks.

How To Make The Best Lentil Soup

Five reasons to love this recipe:

The recipe calls for seasonal vegetables and affordable pantry ingredients, but tastes gourmet.

This lentil soup has an amazing hearty texture thats lightly creamy . The trick is to blend up a portion of the soup once the lentils are tender, and then pour it back into the pot. Its like magic.

This nutritious, well-balanced soup counts as a meal if you enjoy a generous portion. Lentils are rich in protein, fiber, iron and folate.

Lentil soup packs well for lunch in a leak-proof container, and it tastes even better the next day.

This soup freezes and defrosts well. Make soup now and enjoy it later!

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Watch How To Make Lentil Soup

Please let me know how this lentil soup turns out for you in the comments. Im always so eager to hear from you.

If you love this soup, check out my hearty vegetarian chili, favorite black bean soup and pinto posole. You can check out all my soup and stew recipes here.

Dont miss my lentil minestrone recipe in my cookbookif youre a fan of this soup, youre going to love it.

What Type Of Lentils Are Best For Lentil Soup

Dried lentils are best for lentil soup. You can use most types of lentils for this recipe brown, green, red or yellow, though it will affect the colour of the soup. Ive used green lentils, pictured below.

The only type of lentil I do not recommend is Puy Lentils because they hold their shape and dont soften like other lentils.

Can you used canned cooked lentils?

Yes you sure can, and directions are provided in the recipe notes. But its better made with dried lentils because of the texture in the soup, theres only 10 minutes difference in cook time and its more economical!

Dal Dahl Daal Or Dhal

OK, so we might never agree how to spell it, but I think we can all agree that Dahl is one of the most fabulous transformations of the humble lentil!

Dal is probably the most essential staple dish in Indian cuisine. And its one of the most magical and economical foods in the whole world. A handful of lentils, a few spices, and just a bit of TLC transforms into a pot of deliciousness thats nutritious and makes your tastebuds dance.

How Long Do You Soak Red Lentils For Soup

To do it, pour your lentils in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Whereas larger beans sometimes require up to 24 hours of soaking, lentils are small enough that two to four hours should suffice. Then drain the water and give the lentils another quick rinse with fresh, cold water and youre all set to cook.

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How To Make Lentil Soup

Sauté veggies: Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and cook for 5 minutes or until the onion becomes soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Simmer: Stir in the coriander, turmeric, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the lentils, broth, bay leaves, and crushed tomatoes. Stir everything together, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 35-40 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.

Finish: Discard the bay leaves and stir in the lemon juice. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley, green onion, and serve.

What Goes In Lentil Soup

How to Make Lentil Soup | Allrecipes.com

Heres what goes in my lentil soup. Nothing fancy, just everyday ingredients.

So what makes this Lentil Soup so good?

A touch of spices.
Cooking the onion, carrot and celery slowly so they sweeten and make a beautiful flavour base.
Lemon The secret ingredient. Yes really. Little tip I picked up from Ina Garten. Just a bit of zest and squeeze of fresh lemon makes all the difference which takes it from really good to great!

Do you cook lentils before adding to soup?

Nope! Dried lentils cook in 35 minutes in the soup, and theres no need to soak them either!

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New Beef Mince Recipe Idea: Beef & Lentil Soup

This is a hearty lentil soup loaded up with lots of vegetables and the convenience of ground beef for the meat! Why dont we use beef mince in soup more often? Its so handy and economical, it soaks up flavour and makes this one-pot hearty meal a very low-effort endeavour.

My sort of Wednesday night dinner!

I like to brown the beef using spices to incorporate flavour into it which then seeps into the soup broth. So this is a whole lot tastier than the usual lentil soups that have a bad reputation for being bland and boring

I like to add a sprinkling of Moroccan flavours in this to add interest. But theres so many possibilities using whatever youve got! Curry, Greek, Italian, Mexican Ive suggested some in the recipe notes!

Storing And Reheating Leftovers

To Store: This will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in a sealed storage container.
To Freeze: Keep this in a freezer safe container or pour into a silicone freezing tray for pre-made servings. It will last for several months in the freezer.
For Reheating: If youre reheating a single serving, just add it to a bowl and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes until warmed through. But if youre heating up an entire batch, add it back into a pot and warm it up on the stovetop.

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How To Prep Lentils For Cooking

If you buy lentils from a store bin, its a good idea to spread them out on a tray and pick over them and discard any little stones or bits of dirt that could be present. If they seem dusty, rinse them in a colander. Packaged lentils are less likely to contain impurities, but theres no downside to checking them before cooking.

You dont need to soak lentils before cooking. But depending on the variety, they can take anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes to soften when simmered in liquid. They absorb their cooking liquid, and many varieties double in size when cooked.

How To Store Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup will easily keep for 5 days in the fridge, making it ideal for cooking on the weekend and serving throughout the week. And it also freezes 100% perfectly for 3 months even longer!

Every time I make this, I always wonder why I dont make it more often. Its healthy, filling, super economical, freezes perfectly, versatile and its seriously good.

Serving this with some sort of warm crusty bread for dunking is not optional. Its an essential part of the Lentil Soup experience.

But it is optional whether you slather said bread with butter, or grill it with cheese! Here are a few options including making your own ultra easy homemade bread with NO YEAST:

Warm bread, to serve

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Refrigerator And Freezer Directions

To cook from frozen, remove the soup from the freezer and thaw in the fridge overnight. Place the leftover soup in a saucepan over medium low heat on the stove top and cook until warmed through, adding in more broth as needed.

You can also reheat leftovers in the microwave by placing a small amount of the soup in a bowl and cover with a dish towel then cook for 60 second intervals, stirring in between, until warmed through.

What Are Red Lentils Split Vs Whole

Lentils are little dried out lens-shaped vegetables, a plant family members that additionally consists of beans, peas, as well as peanuts. Red lentils are a selection of lentil called for their gorgeous orange-pink shade. The appearance of red lentils breaks down faster than many various other lentils: this makes it best for making fast soups or dal.

A lot of red lentils cost the shop are split red lentils, which is what you need to utilize right here. Some bundles claim red lentils as well as some claim split red lentils: the majority of what youll discover in American food store are all split red lentils. Prevent any kind of bundles that define entire red lentils: they prepare in a different way as well as hold their form when food preparation.

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Is Lentil Soup Good For You

If youre wondering if lentil soup is good for you, the answer is yes!Lentils are nutritious, rich in minerals, protein, low in fat, high in fibre . They are a terrific vegetarian with 25% of the calories in lentils attributable to protein.

Lentils are a carbohydrate, but its slow burning which means it keeps you fuller for longer. Studies also suggest that lentils are good for heart health.

The added benefit is that they are low in calories with 116 calories in 1 cup of cooked lentils .

What does lentil soup taste like?

It tastes savoury and has a flavour boost from a hint of spices. Theres an undertone of natural sweetness from the soffrito flavour base of onion, carrot and celery. My favourite part is the texture! Its thick and comforting, and just made for dunking in hot crusty bread!

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