Red lentil soup in a round white bowl with a spoon in it next to a bowl of parsley and another bowl of soup on top of a towel on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Red Lentil Soup

Try red lentil soup if you like a chunky, bold soup. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and very hearty. Bonus: the leftovers are just as good!

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Soups are a great warm easy dinner to have when the weather starts to get cooler. I like soups because it’s easy to get a lot of vegetables in there and seasonings for a lot of flavors.

Most soups can also be made in one pan, so the cleanup is pretty easy, which I always love.

Red lentil soup has a bold flavor. It’s a more chunky soup than some, so it’s very hearty and filling.

The soup is delicious as it is, but it’s also great with a side of fresh bread. You can get a loaf of French bread, or make your own homemade bread if you have a bread machine.

Red Lentil Soup Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 16 oz red lentils
  • 7 cups vegetable broth
  • 14 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
Ingredients for red lentil soup in various bowls on a wooden surface

Preparation

Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.

Add the onions and carrots and cook for 5 minutes before adding the garlic.

Carrots and onions cooking in a large stockpot on a wooden surface

Add the seasonings, lentils, broth, and crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil.

Spoon lifting lentils from a large stockpot of soup on a wooden surface

Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the lentils are soft.

Cooked red lentil soup in a large stockpot on a wooden surface

Discard the bay leaves and stir in the lemon juice.

Garnish with parsley or green onion and serve warm.

Red lentil soup in a round white bowl with a spoon in it next to a bowl of parsley and another bowl of soup on top of a towel on a wooden surface (vertical)

Red Lentil Soup Leftovers

This soup is delicious as leftovers. Store the red lentil soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat it on the stovetop until just warmed through. If you know you will be saving more than you eat fresh, you may want to undercook the lentils by just a few minutes because they will soften a bit as they sit in the soup and are reheated.

Recipe

Originally Published On: September 12, 2022

Red lentil soup in a round white bowl with a spoon in it next to a bowl of parsley and another bowl of soup on top of a towel on a wooden surface (with title overlay)

Red Lentil Soup

Try red lentil soup if you like a chunky, bold soup. It's vegan, gluten-free, and very hearty. Bonus: the leftovers are just as good!
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course:
Main Dish
Cuisine:
American
Diet
Gluten Free
|
Vegan
|
Vegetarian
Keyword:
red lentils
|
soup
Dietary Needs:
Dairy-Free
|
Egg-Free
|
Gluten-Free
|
Nut-Free
|
Vegan
Cooking Method:
One-Pan Meals
Servings: 8
5 from 9 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 large yellow onion (chopped)
  • 1 carrot (chopped)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 16 oz red lentils
  • 7 cups vegetable broth
  • 14 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat
  • Add the onions and carrots and cook for 5 minutes before adding the garlic
  • Add the seasonings, lentils, broth, and crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the lentils are soft
  • Discard the bay leaves and stir in the lemon juice
  • Garnish with parsley or green onion and serve warm
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Nutrition Facts
Red Lentil Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 272 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Sodium 1044mg44%
Potassium 766mg22%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 19g76%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 2278IU46%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 62mg6%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

24 thoughts on “Red Lentil Soup”

  1. 5 stars
    This is definitely going into my winter soup rotation. I love the earthy robustness of lentils, and the seasonings you used in this soup pair so perfectly with that.

  2. What a nutricious and healthy soup! I am not a big fan yet of lentils but I definifely need to start incorporating this amazing ingredient to our family diet. Especially now as Winter is approaching.

  3. This is perfect, and I also appreciate that you used vegetable broth. As a vegetarian, that’s super important to me!

  4. 5 stars
    To be honest, First time I’ve heard about soup from lentils! I’m amazed it looks so yummy! The creaminess of the sauce will make anybody enticed with it! Loved it!

  5. Halloween Mosaic Art

    I’ve cooked Lentil soup before and loved it! I can’t wait to try out your recipe, it is soooo good…

  6. I do love lentil soup. This looks incredibly delicious and comforting. What a fabulous recipe for the cooler nights ahead…will definitely be saving to make later!

  7. I don’t know if I’ve ever had red lentils before, nevermind red lentil soup. It sounds really yummy especially for this time of the year x

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