Lentil Soup Recipe | Diethood

This straightforward lentil soup recipe is a giant bowl of Mediterranean taste and luxury from my childhood! It’s filled with smoky chilies, tender potatoes, and greens. I like that I could make it in a single pot in below an hour!

Recently, I’ve been cooking all of the consolation meals I do know and love, from Macedonian moussaka to cabbage rolls and this hearty lentil soup recipe with smoky Macedonian peppers. For one more conventional recipe with lentils, do this Indian Mulligatawny stew!

That is my household’s well-known Mediterranean lentil soup recipe loaded with healthful substances and comforting flavors from again house. It’s a mixture of tender lentils, veggies, potatoes, and leafy greens in a wealthy, smoky broth with dried purple chilies, herbs, and spices. I grew up consuming this soup no less than as soon as per week, on both a Wednesday or Friday, all the time. My mother made it so usually that she even planted lentils in our backyard. Let’s simply say, we had lentils for DAYS that yr.

Quick ahead, and whereas I’m not tending to a backyard of lentils, I nonetheless make my mother’s soup recipe usually. Particularly because it wanted lower than an hour on the stovetop!

Why I Love This Straightforward Lentil Soup Recipe

Hearty and straightforward. This one-pot soup is my go-to every time I discover myself craving one thing hearty and comforting, that’s nonetheless straightforward to tug collectively. It wants easy however satisfying substances like carrots, potatoes, canned lentils, and Swiss chard.
Fast. Effectively, by soup requirements! This straightforward lentil soup is prepared in 30-some-odd minutes, most of which is time spent simmering. It’s so hands-free, that even my husband isn’t scared off by the considered making it. And as a person who solely cooks pasta, that’s saying one thing.
Daring Mediterranean flavors. I like the daring, candy, and smoky taste of purple chilies on this soup. Paired with contemporary herbs like parsley and garlic and a handful of seasonings, it’s every part I like about Macedonian cooking.

Close up view of lentil soup in a black stoneware bowl.

Components You’ll Want

Listed here are some notes on the substances that want gathering for this lentil soup recipe. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card after the publish for the total substances listing and recipe particulars.

Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil. It’s also possible to use butter.
Aromatics – Diced onion, carrots, and celery create the flavour base for the soup.
Potatoes – I take advantage of Yukon Gold potatoes, that are nice all-rounders for soup and stew recipes. Different good choices are russets, purple, or yellow potatoes. Chop the potatoes into bite-sized chunks in order that they’ll cook dinner sooner.
Recent Herbs – Chopped parsley, minced garlic cloves, and thyme sprigs.
Seasonings – Paprika (candy or smoked), dried oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf. You’ll be able to adapt the quantities and spices on this recipe relying in your tastes. For a spicier soup, add extra paprika, cayenne, or chili flakes.
Broth – I take advantage of vegetable inventory to maintain this soup vegetarian. You’ll be able to substitute low-sodium hen or beef broth if wanted.
Lentils – Lentils are available in all types of colours, see under. For those who’re utilizing canned lentils, keep in mind to empty and rinse them beforehand.
Dried Pink Chilies – I like to make use of candy, dried Macedonian peppers. They’re a sort of banana pepper and the type my mother all the time makes use of in soups. Good options are Thai purple chilies, ancho, or guajillo peppers (just like the peppers I take advantage of in my guajillo steak marinade). Take away the stems and seeds, and slice the chilies into quarters lengthwise.
Greens – Swiss chard, child spinach, kale, or collard greens all work properly on this recipe. Be happy to combine and match!

What Colour Lentils Are Greatest for Soup?

I virtually all the time use earthy brown lentils or peppery inexperienced lentils on this lentil soup recipe. These are my prime two decisions! Right here’s how they examine:

Inexperienced Lentils – Inexperienced lentils have a light however barely peppery taste. They soften simply sufficient when cooked, however nonetheless maintain their form, making them a terrific selection for soups and stews.
Brown Lentils – Brown lentils have a extra earthy style, and so they’re additionally a good selection for soups for a similar causes above.
Pink Lentils – Pink lentils break down shortly when cooked, in order that they are typically a bit mushy in soup recipes. That being mentioned, if in case you have purple lentils, the flavour remains to be good, and so they’ll work in a pinch.

How one can Make the Greatest Lentil Soup

This vegetarian lentil soup comes collectively pretty shortly in a single pot on the stovetop. It’s good for cozy weekend afternoons and the entire home smells superb whereas it cooks! Simply enthusiastic about it takes me proper again to my childhood. Let’s get began.

Sauté the veggies. First, sauté the diced carrots, onions, celery, and potatoes in a big pot with olive oil till tender. Stir usually so the veggies brown evenly on all sides.
Add seasonings. Subsequent, stir in your contemporary herbs and garlic, adopted by the dry seasonings, salt, and pepper. Prepare dinner for a minute, till aromatic.
Add the remaining soup substances. Now, add the broth and drop in a bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Convey the pot to a boil, and stir within the lentils and dried chilies.
Prepare dinner. Decrease the warmth to a simmer and let the soup cook dinner, uncovered, for 20 minutes till the lentils and potatoes are cooked by way of and tender.
Add greens. Lastly, stir in your leafy greens. Prepare dinner for one more jiffy to wilt the leaves. Afterward, pluck out the thyme and bay leaf, and serve.

Overhead view of lentil soup inside a large pot.

Ideas and Variations

The place to search for dried chilies: I normally discover dried chilies within the produce part, the worldwide meals aisle, or the spice aisle in most grocery shops. Don’t fear if you happen to can’t discover Macedonian peppers. Whereas they’ve the perfect taste (wealthy, candy, and smoky, a bit like cayenne), nearly any dried purple chili will work.
For those who can’t discover dried purple chilies, I like to recommend substituting 1 teaspoon of paprika + ½ teaspoon chili powder to amp up the spicy broth.
Substitute the lentils. If lentils aren’t your factor, you’ll be able to swap them out for chickpeas, beans, or one other legume. It received’t be lentil soup, however it’ll nonetheless style nice.
Modify the seasonings on the finish of cooking. I like to recommend seasoning soups to style solely after they’ve simmered for some time. This fashion, the flavors have an opportunity to come back collectively first. It’s positive to style as you go however save any main changes till the top of cooking.
Completely different veggies. You’ll be able to skip the potatoes or substitute candy potatoes, cauliflower, purple bell peppers, and different veggies.
Add protein. For those who like your soup with meat, see my lentil and chorizo soup for one more straightforward variation. In any other case, if in case you have any pre-cooked shredded hen (a rotisserie hen or baked hen breasts work properly), pulled pork, or beef ideas within the fridge, stir these in on the finish for a meaty model.

Serving Ideas

My mother all the time served us lentil soup with crusty skillet bread for dunking. It’s simply as nice with grissini, home made gevrek (sesame bagels), or fluffy Mediterranean rice and a salad. Or, slurp it up simply as it’s! This cozy lentil soup has loads of textures and flavors, so that you hardly want something additional (besides perhaps a glass of Pinot Grigio). It additionally leaves room for a slice of marble cake for dessert!

Overhead view of lentil soup in a black stoneware bowl.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Refrigerate. Hold leftovers lined hermetic within the fridge for as much as 5 days. I like making an enormous pot of lentil soup on the weekend to take pleasure in leftovers all week!
Reheat. This soup reheats simply on the stovetop over medium warmth or within the microwave.
Freeze. Retailer the soup in an hermetic container or freezer bag and freeze for as much as 3 months. For those who make this soup meaning to freeze it immediately, cook dinner the veggies simply till they’re tender-crisp, not all over. This fashion, they’ll cook dinner to the right texture when the soup’s thawed and reheated.

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