comment icon 245 more comments This soup is ultra creamy and super smoky, full of vegetables, vegan, gluten-free, and the perfect blend between chunky and smooth with those little red lentils that just gently melt into soupy deliciousness. The final squeeze of lemon juice wakes everything up, and the honey is the perfect subtle sweet finish that you didn’t even know you needed. It begs to be dunked and dunked again with all kinds of breads, crackers, and flatbreads. So much flavor, so much nutrition, so many good feelings all around. Don’t get us wrong here, we love a soup with a good bacony start like this one or yummy Italian sausage bits (stay tuned!), but this one boasts big, big flavors while still being totally plant-based.
In This Post: Everything You Need For Red Lentil Soup
Prefer To Watch Instead Of Read?
Ingredients In This Red Lentil Soup
The best part of this recipe is that it comes together almost entirely from your pantry, making for an easy, simple, cozy weeknight dinner. Here’s what we’re working with:
Veggies (onion, carrots, celery, spinach) Spices (garlic, smoked paprike, cumin, turmeric) Lentils Vegetable broth Coconut milk Lemon to finish it all off
The Different Types Of Lentils
We love lentils! I mean, obviously we do. But what’s the deal with all the different types? Red, green, brown, French, black, huh? Here’s a quick breakdown and why red works so nicely here:
Red Lentils: The fastest-cooking lentils of them all! As you can see in this recipe, and this Instant Pot Cauliflower Curry, the lentils almost dissolve into the rest of the ingredients – leaving a perfectly textured soup. ❤️ Brown Lentils: The most common type – essentially, if it’s not specified what lentil you should use in a recipe, this is probably it! Super tender but hold their shape, making them perfect for these Red Curry Lentils and this Lentil Greek Salad with Dill Sauce. Green Lentils: Very similar to brown lentils, but a little earthier and take a little longer to cook. These are also ideal for salads! French Lentils: Essentially green lentils, but a little smaller! Black Lentils: Another similar one to green or brown with a striking black color. We love them in this Perfect Baked Salmon with Lentils and Lemon Herb Sauce.
How To Make This Delicious Red Lentil Soup
Okay, so this is actually a pretty straightforward soup party. There’s the classic carrot/onion/celery trio who always show up early, then the garlic, cumin, and turmeric come in with a special guest – a clomp of beautiful smoked paprika. Once your cutie little red lentils join, the simmering does all the work and you get to quietly ghost away to your couch (or maybe stay and dance around if you’re a party person). To make it happen: Fresh spinach and yummy dreamy coconut milk are always welcome on the guest list, but it’s really those party favors at the end that clinch it (are we going too far with this party analogy? possibly.) The onion and garlic powder add just a hint more concentrated flavor, and then you get that bit of acid from the lemon juice cutting through the richness. Of course, if you’re going for a totally vegan get-together (okay, we’re done now), you’ll have to leave this out, but that honey drizzle at the end is such a unique surprise. “I’m sorry, drizzle honey into my SOUP?!” you say. And yes. Yes, that is what we’re saying. The tiniest hint of sweetness to cap off this smoky soiree (whoops, did it again) is a real chef’s kiss moment.
What To Serve With Lentil Soup
This soup is so cozy and filling that it really doesn’t need anything else, BUT listen, it is also so extremely dippable! Thanks to the lentils it really thickens up making it IDEAL for soup dips.
A Deliciously Vegan Protein Powerhouse
There’s just so much to love about this one. So nutritious and satisfying thanks to the piles of veg and the nutrient-dense, full of good-for-you, powerhouse lentils.
It tastes like it should have taken hours to make with the complexity of the smoky spice, the tinge of coconut in the background, but it really comes together so easily. Creamy rich while being completely vegan (if you omit the honey, of course) and it will keep you filled up in belly and heart all the day through.
The deep richness from the spices, the creamy coconut milk finish, and the serious meatiness of the never-let-you-down lentils make this one not to be missed. Yes please forever.
Hello fall, we’re so very ready for you. ❤️
Source notes: This recipe was inspired by a smoky red lentil soup our friends Alex and Sonja and their veg-friendly cookbook called Pretty Simple Cooking (affiliate link). I left out the balsamic, upped the amount of lentils, and added some extra finishers because this is just how I live my life, but the base of this soup came from their very lovely recipe.
More Delicious Lentil Recipes
Red Curry Lentils (perfect for cozy szn) The Best Detox Crockpot Lentil Soup (one of our most-loved recipes on Pinch of Yum!) Simple 5 Ingredient Baked Falafel (super easy to make!) Instant Pot Cauliflower Curry (throw it all in the Instant Pot and done)
Time To Show You Off!
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our collection of luscious coconut milk recipes. Check it out! 4.8 from 118 reviews
6 pieces of flatbread, naan, or crispy socca for dipping
