This simple lentil soup is simply 7 elements and easy to meal prep as a lunch or dinner recipe! It’s certainly one of our prime low cost and scrumptious wholesome meal prep concepts.
Yearly I’m going via a “lentil soup part” the place I eat the identical soup on repeat as a result of it’s simple, satisfying, and intensely economical. Some years it’s been this curry lentil soup, or others this crimson lentil soup or the smoky lentil soup from this cookbook I authored. However I’ve simply found the lentil soup that outshines all of them: it’s solely 7 elements, plant-based, good for meal prep, and terribly scrumptious. We despatched it to a recipe tester who mentioned, “How is that this SO scrumptious AND really easy to make?” Should you’re searching for simple, wholesome budget-friendly meals: it is a sport changer.
Leap to the recipe—now.
You solely want 7 elements for this lentil soup
We’ve developed a number of lentil soup recipes over time: this one with a tomato-based broth, one with curry, one with crimson lentils, and an Italian lentil soup. However this new recipe is our favourite but. I created it for a buddy with dietary restrictions, and after recipe testing I realized this straightforward rule: an awesome lentil soup recipe works even with out broth.
What, no vegetable broth, you say?
Bought vegetable broth might be costly, particularly if you need to purchase two quarts of it for a single recipe. This lentil soup is simply as satisfying as soups with broth utilizing solely water and salt! We not often run throughout this with a vegetarian or vegan soup, since broth helps to infuse that savory taste that’s lacking with out meat. There are 7 elements you’ll want this simple lentil soup recipe (excluding that salt and water):
- Dried inexperienced or brown lentils: Keep away from different varieties of lentils for this soup recipe. Inexperienced and brown work one of the best (packages labeled “lentils” are often one of many two). Purple lentils prepare dinner quicker and will turn out to be mushy, and French or black lentils don’t have the fitting texture for this recipe.
- Carrot, celery, and onion: This frequent trio of fragrant soup greens offers the earthy taste to this soup.
- Garlic: Contemporary garlic is all the time key to a savory taste of a soup, particularly if it’s vegetarian or vegan (it may well mimic a few of the umami of meat).
- Olive oil: Olive oil is important for sautéing and browning the greens, although you would swap in butter or ghee if desired.
- Cumin: Cumin provides savory, earthy notes that make for an easy but intriguing taste. (It additionally tastes nice with double the amount of curry powder!)
Based on the New York Occasions, Mediterranean food plan tips counsel consuming legumes 2 to three occasions per week, and this soup recipe is an easy and scrumptious option to do it.
Add an non-compulsory garnish or two!
There are a couple of non-compulsory garnish elements, however they’re not important for the flavoring. Finely chopped recent parsley provides a pleasant inexperienced coloration, and should you’d like you possibly can add freshly floor black pepper. Our favourite is to garnish with grated Pecorino cheese so as to add a pop of salt. To maintain it vegan, you possibly can substitute vegan Parmesan cheese.
Different garnishes which might be all the time scrumptious: a dollop of Greek yogurt (or cashew cream, for vegan). Some soups want it for taste, however this one can stand alone.
Suggestions for making this lentil soup recipe
This lentil soup recipe is an easy matter of chopping greens, sauteing them, then including lentils and simmering for half-hour. There’s no want for particular tools: only a pot and some greens. You’ll be stunned on the hearty, scrumptious taste: and it’s so satisfying and filling! Listed below are a couple of ideas for the method:
- Begin with 9 cups of water for simmering. We like a soup that could be very lentil-heavy, with only a little bit of broth so this quantity of liquid typically works properly for us.
- If you need it extra “brothy” add as much as 1 cup extra water with a couple of pinches salt. Bear in mind, you’re making primarily a broth with water and salt, so it’s possible you’ll want so as to add a couple of extra pinches of salt with any further water.
It’s the one lentil soup recipe you’ll want—and you’ll combine it up!
This lentil soup recipe is so easy that after you attempt it, you’ll most likely put it proper into your common rotation! It’s the best vegetarian dinner and plant primarily based or vegan dinner thought. It’s an awesome template recipe that you should use after which combine and match spices based on what you’ve gotten readily available and what you’re craving. Listed below are a couple of variations we’ve achieved:
- Curry powder: Substitute the cumin with 2 to three teaspoons curry powder.
- Coconut milk: Desire a creamy spin? Stir in ½ can full fats coconut milk, or extra to style.
- Potatoes: Add 1 small diced, peeled potato and add it to the greens after sautéing 5 minutes. Sauté for 3 extra minutes earlier than persevering with the remaining steps.
Meal prep and make forward notes
This lentil soup recipe is right for meal prep as a result of it tastes even higher over time! We make up a giant batch for the week and it shops properly. It’s an awesome wholesome dinner concept that’s vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free! Listed below are a couple of make forward ideas:
- Make and retailer this lentil soup for as much as 1 week refrigerated. The flavour simply retains getting higher!
- The lentils absorb water throughout storage, so you possibly can add barely extra liquid. Should you’re making this for meal prep, the lentils will absorb some liquid over time: you possibly can merely add a splash of water and a pinch of salt to your bowl earlier than serving.
- You may as well freeze lentil soup. Place it in an hermetic container and freeze for as much as 3 months.
A couple of sides to make it a meal
This lentil soup is extra filling than most of our vegetarian and vegan dinner recipes, since lentils have a stable quantity of protein. Add a salad and also you’ve acquired a satisfying meal! Listed below are a couple of sides we wish to pair:
Or, browse these 20 cozy sides for soup for extra concepts! Tell us what you assume within the feedback: we hope you’ll discover it’s a easy meal prep thought for lunch or dinner.
Extra lentil soup recipes we love
This lentil soup recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Description
This simple lentil soup is simply 7 elements (excluding salt and water) and easy to meal prep as a lunch or dinner recipe! It’s certainly one of our prime low cost and scrumptious wholesome meal prep concepts.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 9 to 10 cups water
- 1 pound (16 ounces) dried inexperienced or brown lentils
- 1 teaspoon floor cumin*
- Optionally available garnishes: Finely chopped parsley, freshly floor black pepper, grated Pecorino cheese
- In a big pot of Dutch oven, warmth the olive oil over medium excessive warmth. Add the celery, carrot, onion, and garlic and saute for five to six minutes till tender.
- Add the water, lentils and cumin. Convey to a simmer and simmer for half-hour till the lentils are tender. Add the extra ½ to 1 cup of water as wanted. Style and add further salt to style.
- Serve instantly or refrigerate for meal prep: the soup lasts as much as 1 week refrigerated and leftovers style even higher. Leftovers could absorb further broth, so you possibly can add a splash of water and pinch of salt if the feel turns into too thick.
Notes
*If desired, you possibly can change up the spices. This soup is nice with 2 to three teaspoons curry powder (and a half can of coconut milk, should you like). You may as well substitute different spices like dried tarragon, dried oregano, and extra.
- Class: Primary dish
- Technique: Stovetop
- Delicacies: Soup
- Food regimen: Vegan
Key phrases: Lentil soup, lentil soup recipe, simple lentil soup
