How To Prepare Lentils For Soup

How To Cook Lentils

First off, try to use lentils that arent super old. If theyve been sitting in the back of your cupboard for years, youre going to need to cook them longer they take more time to soften up.

One cup of dry lentils will get you about 2½ cups of cooked lentils.

How long you cook lentils depends on both the type of lentils youre cooking and the final dish youre making. If youre adding lentils to salads or to a soup where you want to keep them intact for texture, youll want to use French lentils or black lentils and stop cooking them before they fall apart. For preparations like Ethiopian misir wot, youll want to use red lentils and cook them until they are pretty much a puree.

How To Choose Your Lentils

I like to use the small dark green lentils because theyre sturdy and cook quickly. Regular green lentils are also fantastic here

All lentil varieties work great in this recipe and are very nutritious, so try different types and find what you like best.

Red lentils cook down extra soft, while green and black lentils will hold more bite. Brown lentils also cook quickly but lose their shape more than green lentils, resulting in a more mushy soup.

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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To Soak Or Not To Soak Lentils

Do lentils need to be soaked? Unlike other pulses, its not necessary to soak lentils before cooking them. You may still choose to soak them for benefits to the cooking time or to make them easier to digest. Really, its up to you.

Lentils need a little more cooking time if you dont soak them, but its generally not a problem. If you havent had time to think ahead, still give them a good rinse in a fine-mesh colander and inspect them for any hard shells or rocks, as lentils are stored in big drums and can accumulate dust particles. But is totally ok if you dont have time to soak them.

On the flip side, lentils will cook faster if you soak them. Soaking lentils can also make them easier to digest. If you find that lentils make your tummy grumble or give you gas, then consider soaking them for 12-24 hours.

Always discard the soaking water and rinse the lentils before proceeding with cooking.

Are Lentils Gluten-Free? Lentils are naturally gluten-free. However, always make sure to read your labelssome lentils may be processed in a facility that processes items with gluten.

How To Make Lentil Soup:

I have included detailed instructions in the full recipe below for how to make this lentil soup in either an Instant Pot, Crock-Pot or on the stovetop. But here is a quick overview:

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How To Prepare Lentils The Complete Guide

Lentil soups and salads are among the most famous dishes in many different cuisines. Due to their nutrition and benefits for health, theyre worth adding to your daily diet.

Furthermore, lentils are easy to find and make, which makes them a very convenient option. Preparing a dish full of protein, fibers, iron, calcium, and low in calories is only a few steps away.

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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Pumpkin Red Lentil Soup

Pumpkin Red Lentil Soup cooks in a single pot and carries rich flavor notes of Thai curry, coconut, and pumpkin. It’s vegan, gluten free, and makes use of speedy, shortcut ingredients.

When we think of pumpkin recipes, sweet treats like Healthy Pumpkin Bars and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins typically come to mind first.

However, this soup may convince you that pumpkin’s savory side can be just as delicious.

Pumpkin is mild in flavor, nutritious, and can add creamy richness to an array of recipes. Think Pumpkin all Vodka Pasta, Pumpkin Pizza, and even Pumpkin Enchiladas.

This Pumpkin Lentil Soup is plant-based, filling, and come together in 1 pot.

And while it’s incredibly easy to prepare, the flavors are anything but basic. With rich notes of curry, warm fall spices, and lots of aromatics, it boasts layers of complexity.

How To Make Lentil Soup From Scratch

• Sauté your onion, garlic, carrots and celery over over low heat for almost 10 minutes. Take your time here the lower the heat, the longer you take, the more these will transform to create an incredible flavour base for the soup!

• Add everything else other than the lemon

• Simmer 35 minutes until lentils are soft and

• Finish with a dusting of zest and spritz of lemon.

A hint of lemon earthiness from the zest and touch of freshness from the juice just jazzes up the soup and takes it to that next level!

Youll find that the lentils mostly breakdown and naturally thicken the soup. But what I like to do to get a really luscious creamy texture is to give the soup a quick whizz with a blender stick to puree SOME but not all the lentils.

That way you get the benefit of both worlds creamy soup with soft bits of lentils. YES!

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With Smoky Bacon Tender Lentils And Plenty Of Veggies This Easy Lentil Soup Recipe Is An Affordable Meal That You Can Prepare On The Stovetop In About An Hour Or Make Ahead For Busy Days

Classic comfort food at its finest! Simmer a pot of easy lentil soup on the stovetop for a simple meal that everyone loves. With crispy bacon, protein-packed lentils and plenty of fresh veggies, this is a nourishing one-pot meal to keep your weeknights stress-free. Serve a warm bowl with a French baguette, corn muffins or buttermilk biscuits and watch your family smile!

The Very Best Lentil Soup

When it comes to Lentil Soups, they donât get much more satisfying than this one! Itâs a bare bones soup, meaning you wonât find any unnecessary frills or complicated steps here. Itâs a classic recipe thatâs the definition of tried and true!

With that being said, itâs also anything but bland. The medley of mouthwatering spices and mix of fresh veggies keep this thick Lentil Soup plenty flavorful. Oh, and that squeeze of fresh lemon juice right at the end is like the cherry on top!

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What To Serve With Crockpot Lentil Soup

• Bread. My favorite side to pair with soups! This Rosemary Olive Oil Bread, Crock Pot Bread, or a crusty loaf from your favorite bakery would all be tasty.
• Vegetables. Serve your soup with a side of these healthy and delicious Sautéed Brussels Sprouts or Sauteed Cabbage.
• Salad. Winter Salad with Kale and Pomegranate or Winter Slaw would both be great paired with this soup.

Do I Have To Soak Lentils

NO! Personally, I love the texture of this soup made from scratch. Lentil soup is delicious when the lentils are simmered from scratch in all of those flavours and develop a nice, creamy texture from the beans into the soup. You dont need to pre soak them!

However, like this 10-Minute White Bean Parmesan Spinach Soup where we use canned beans as a time saving solution, you can use canned lentils if thats all you have on hand. If using canned, add them in during the last 5 minutes of cooking. They dont need long as they are pre-cooked.

Then of course, dip some bread into it like theres no tomorrow. I made a batch of these Individual Garlic Breads to serve with ours!

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How To Tell When Its Done

The most important thing about this red lentil soup recipe: dont overcook it! Cook red lentils too long, and they lose their shape and turn into a mush. Sometimes you want that, like in this delicious Masoor Dal recipe . But in this soup, youll want the lentils to be just tender but still hold their shape.

Make sure to keep an eye on the soup: simmer it just 7 to 10 minutes until the lentils are just soft but before they break apart. Keep in mind that some brands of split red lentils are smaller than others, meaning they cook slightly differently. One brand we buy cooks much faster than others.

Should I Blend Lentil Soup

Whether you blend the soup is entirely up to you. Lots of recipes for lentil soup call for blending all or part of the soup the thicken it. I dont usually do this since I think the soup is thick enough and I enjoy the combination of broth and the texture of whole cooked lentils.

If you do want to blend the soup, use an immersion blender or a stand blender with the stopper removed and a paper towel placed over the hole. This way, as you blend the hot liquid, steam can be released .

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What To Serve With Red Lentil Soup

While the soup is simmering, youve got some time to figure out what to serve alongside it. I often pair lentil soup with crusty bread, toasting it with a drizzle of olive oil and some shredded Parmesan cheese if Im feeling indulgent. Slice your bread thick enough to tear off nice big hunks perfect for dunking and swiping up the last few drops of soup.

As a finishing touch, consider topping your bowls with a swirl of peppery olive oil, a dollop of tangy yogurt, or, my personal favorite, gremolata. This simple combination of chopped garlic, parsley, and lemon zest gives the soup a punch of freshness and brightens up the bowl.

How To Prep Lentils

Before cooking, youll want to sort and rinse your lentils. Put dry lentils in a sieve or colander and look for any debris sometimes youll find small pebbles so youll want to do your teeth a favor and discard those. Rinse with fresh water.

Generally, unlike beans, lentils do not need to be soaked before cooking. There are, however, some preparations, like the Indian porridge khichdi or dal, that call for lentils to be soaked to help make them really soft and easy to digest.

Indian-Spiced Khichdiby Kanchan Koya

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Tip For Making The Best Lentil Soup

There is honestly no perfect way to make this soup, and that is what I LOVE about it. However, I have found a handy tip for making this the best lentil soup:

Do not overcook the lentils.

Whether this is your first time making lentil soup or your thousandth time, I cannot stress this enough. Make sure to not overcook the lentils, or else they will become extremely mushy.

That will not affect the taste of this yummy soup, but the mushy lentils thicken the soup and give it a different, less pleasant consistency.

How To Store Carrabba’s Sausage Lentil Soup

So, this recipe for Carrabba’s sausage lentil soup will make enough for about four servings.

And if you find that you have leftovers – or if you made a little extra to have later – this sausage lentil soup is best stored in an air-tight container once cooled. Stored like that it will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days.

After that, if you want to keep it for longer you’ll want to freeze it. To do that you can store it in an airtight container – or freezer-safe bag – and then it will stay good in there – the freezer – for up to 4 months.

How to Reheat Sausage Lentil Soup

Now, when you want to enjoy your leftovers, you can reheat this sausage lentil soup in the microwave or on the stovetop.

If using a microwave, simply add the leftover soup to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30-second increments, stirring between each one until warmed through.

And if you want to use the stove, just add the soup to a pot over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, and warm it until it’s steaming and heated through.

Oh, and if you’re reheating frozen soup, just let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then follow the reheating instructions above.

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Make It In An Instant Pot Or Slow Cooker

I like this recipe best on the stovetop because following each individual step brings out the most flavor from each ingredient.

However, if youre in a rush, toss all of the ingredients into a slow-cooker or pressure cooker and set it on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Blend part of the soup if desired before serving.

Recipe Notes And Tips

• Adjust the amount of water to suit your tastes. You can add more water during cooking and after blending if needed. I usually leave 2 inches of water above the settled lentils.
• Mix the spices with water before adding them to the soup. Mix the spices with 2 tablespoons of water, it will help the combine easier so you dont end up with clumps of spices.
• Swap out golden potatoes for sweet potatoes or butternut squash. If you want a flavor and texture twist!
• Add some greens. If you want to add some more veggies, toss in some swiss chard or kale.
• Add salt to taste. Taste the soup once youve blended it and add more if you like.
• Give it a spicy kick! top the soup with some crushed red chili flakes for a hit of spiciness.
• Make the soup in a heavy bottomed pan or dutch oven. They will distribute the heat more evenly so are less likely to form hotspots than can burn the soup.
• Use an immersion blender to blend the soup. This is the easiest way, but you can also ladle the soup into a stand blender in portions. Just be careful as it will be very hot.

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How To Make Pumpkin Lentil Soup

The goal for this recipe was to showcase the qualities of what makes lentil soup so desirable: filling but not heavy, healthy, and budget-friendly.

If you don’t have any of these ingredients on hand, don’t worry — the recipe is very versatile and forgiving. I always try to offer substitutes for any ingredients that aren’t necessarily household staples.

Substitutions For The Best Lentil Soup Recipe

This lentil soup recipe is so versatile! Here are some ways to customize it:

Lentil Soup Recipe with Chicken: Add 1 lb raw chicken breasts to this soup when it starts to cook, but before serving, remove chicken breasts from the soup, shred on a cutting board, and stir shredded chicken back into the pot.

Lentil Soup Recipe with Sausage: Smoked sausage is a delicious addition to this recipe. We like to brown it in the pan, slice + stir it into the soup while it cooks.

Lentil Soup Recipe with Ham: Add 1 lb chopped cooked ham to this recipe for a delicious protein boost.

Canned Lentils: If you use canned lentils, cut the cook time in half.

Lentils: I have not tried this recipe with anything besides lentils but I think it would also work with split peas! You can also try this Split Pea Soup.

Cheese: I love to add a parmesan cheese rind into soup while its cooking. You can also top this lentil soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Broth: If you like a broth-ier soup, add more liquid . The lentils can also absorb the liquid as they soak. If you are reheating this soup, you may need to add more broth.

Veggies: Feel free to add your preferred veggies to this soup. Mushrooms and zucchini are some of our favorite additions. If you dont have carrots, celery, or onion omit them. You can add 1 teaspoon of onion powder or garlic powder instead!

Dried Herbs: Substitute 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.

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