Sweet Peas and Saffron

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Hearty Lentil Soup

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This lentil soup is thick and hearty, loaded with lentils, vegetables and fresh herbs. A tasty vegan soup recipe that works great for meal prep!

I am a sucker for a hearty, veggie-loaded vegan meal, like this Vegan Bolognese or a bowl of this Vegan Crockpot Chili. This hearty lentil soup is just that! Cozy, filling, and loaded with good for you ingredients.

blue bowl with lentil soup and bread in background

This lentil soup recipe is thick and filling, and is perfect for lunch!

And while this is a tasty meal on day 1, it’s the kind of soup that tastes infinitely better on day 2. Funny how that happens!

Reasons you’ll ♡ lentil soup

  • it’s made with pantry and fridge staples but tastes gourmet
  • it keeps well and tastes even better on day 2
  • it’s hearty and healthy, vegan + gluten-free

Recipe video

Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped this soup. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.

Don’t forget to pin this post to save it for later!

overhead view of ingredients used in this lentil soup recipe

Which ingredients do we need?

  • lentils– go for brown lentils (not red) for this recipe. They hold their shape and don’t get as mushy as red lentils. Find out the difference between brown, green and red lentils here!
  • veggies– we are finely chopping some carrots and celery
  • aromatics– onion and garlic help build flavor
  • herbs– fresh rosemary and thyme are great in this recipe, and bay leaves also bring some flavor
  • tomato paste– add that somethin somethin to this soup.
  • lemon– a squeeze at the end brings the acidity that helps bring out all the flavors even more
  • stock– vegetable stock or if you are not vegan, homemade bone broth

vegan lentil soup in pot before cooking

Meal prep tips

  • tomato paste- make sure you sautee the tomato paste as this helps remove the ‘canned’ flavor. You can freeze leftover tomato paste in an ice cube tray and use it in another recipe
  • lentils– this recipe was specifically developed using dried brown lentils. I don’t recommend using cooked canned lentils or red lentils.
  • meal prep– this recipe keeps really well for meal prep! Store in the fridge for up to 4 days and the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • to puree or not to puree– this soup gets a little help thickening up by pulsing quickly with an immersion blender after cooking. This is entirely optional

Find my favorite kitchen equipment in my shop!

how to make lentil soup, ladle scooping soup after cooking

Can I cook this soup in the Instant Pot?

I bet you could, however I have not tried. I would guess 10 minutes high pressure with a 10 minute natural pressure release. Let me know in the comments if you try this, and how it goes for you!

What about the slow cooker?

I bet you could! I would try low for 6-8 hours, checking on the lentils. Again, I’d love to know if you do try this in the slow cooker 🙂

What should I serve with this soup?

We love serving with some crusty bread for dunking. Crackers would also be great!

overhead view of three bowls of lentil vegetable soup

More soup recipes

This recipe was originally published in 2016. The recipe has been improved, rephotographed and republished in 2019 with new recipe tips and a video.

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5 from 3 votes

Hearty Lentil Soup

Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Keyword: dairy-free, freezer, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
Calories: 210.89kcal
Author: Denise Bustard
Servings: 6
This lentil soup is thick and hearty, loaded with lentils, vegetables and fresh herbs. A tasty vegan soup recipe that works great for meal prep!
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time40 mins

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 carrots (finely chopped)
  • 2 ribs celery (finely chopped)
  • 5 cups stock
  • 1 cups brown lentils (dry; uncooked)
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves)
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • juice of 1 small lemon

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and stir, cooking until translucent, around 7 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
  • Add the tomato paste; stir to coat onions and garlic, then cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the carrots, celery, stock, lentils, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf and salt.
  • Cover, bring to a simmer, reduce heat, and cook for 35-40 minutes, or until lentils are softened to your liking.
  • Remove the herbs and bay leaves, and puree. Stir in lemon juice.
  • Enjoy!

Storage

  • Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze for up to 6 months.

Notes

  1. Instant Pot
  2. Follow sauté directions above using the sauté function of the Instant Pot.
  3. Pressure cook for 15 minutes followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release.
  4. Remove bay leaf and herb stems, add lemon juice, and pulse 3-4 times with an immersion blender. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 batch | Calories: 210.89kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.72g | Protein: 9.15g | Fat: 7.48g | Saturated Fat: 1.05g | Sodium: 1240.98mg | Potassium: 500.29mg | Fiber: 11.26g | Sugar: 4.97g | Vitamin A: 4015.2IU | Vitamin C: 7.77mg | Calcium: 43.77mg | Iron: 2.92mg

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About Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more. read more

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Comments

  2. Mark Gailmor

    Made this recipe today and it was totally delish. Used my bamix stick blender to puree about 20 to 30 percent after cooking and it made the soup look thicker and inviting. My only regret is that I didn’t double the recipe. But hey, there’s always next time.

    Thanks again for a delicious recipe!

    Reply

  3. Karen

    5 stars
    Delicious, easy to put together, and tasty. I like the lemon juice addition at the end of cooking – it gives a vey nice aftertaste.

    Reply

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