Lemon Lentil Soup

This lemon lentil soup is the best! Flavourful and healthy with the most delicious bright, zesty and refreshing flavour, what’s not to love?

The texture is wonderfully rich and creamy, yet it’s made without cream and is completely dairy-free (vegan too!). It’s also easy to make with just a few simple steps and everyday pantry ingredients for quick one-pot meal.

Chances are you already have everything you have on hand, so give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredient Notes

A complete list of ingredients with amounts and full instructions is located in the printable recipe card below. This section covers ingredient and substitution considerations.

• Olive Oil: Substitute with avocado or use water or broth for an oil-free recipe.
• Vegetable Stock: Any homemade vegetable broth or stock, or store-bought carton broth or bouillon cubes/powder works. Brands and varieties will vary in sodium content, so adjust added salt in the reference accordingly to suit your tastes.
• Lentils: This recipe is best with red lentils. It can be made with green or brown lentils but would require and longer cooking time.
• Onion: White or yellow onion is suitable.
• Turmeric: Can be substituted with yellow curry powder in a pinch. It’s really lovely with turmeric though!

Step-by-Step Instructions

For the complete written recipe, see the recipe card below. This section shows step-by-step photos for a quick, visual reference.

Step 1: Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat then add the onion, garlic and carrot with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Cook them for 6-8 minutes, stirring often, until softened.

Step 2: Add the tomato paste, cumin, coriander, paprika and turmeric and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Step 3: Add the lentils, broth and another pinch of salt and pepper.

Bring the soup to a boil then reduce the heat to low-medium and simmer lightly for 15-18 minutes until the lentils are tender.

Step 4: Either use an immersion blender in the pot or transfer half of the soup to a blender and puree.

Return the blended soup to the pot if you used a blender.

Step 5: Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice, taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Quick Tip: If you don’t have a citrus planer to make the zest, grate the lemon peel until you have 1 tsp or slice off some of the peel with a sharp knife and finely chop.

Serve with fresh cilantro and enjoy!

Notes & Tips

• This recipe is best with red lentils due to their soft texture when cooked. You can use green or brown lentils but the soup will have a different texture (and colour) and will require a longer cooking time (20-30 minutes simmer time).
• Season as you go. Add a pinch of salt and pepper with the onion, garlic and carrot and again when you add the lentils and broth.
• If you’d like to add a bit of heat, add up to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper along with the other spices.
• This soup makes a hearty meal on its own but can also be served as a side with fried rice and lentils, a green salad, roasted vegetable salad, quinoa beet burger or a chickpea wrap.
• Also amazing served with crusty bread, pita or naan for dipping!

Variations

This recipe is flexible as far as additional ingredients. Here are a few ways to adapt it:

• Stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or kale after blending.
• Add up to 1/2 cup celery along with the carrot, onion and garlic.
• Add up to 1 cup cubed sweet potato, potato or squash when you add the lentils.
• Stir in up to 1 cup cooked orzo or chickpeas after blending or serve with roasted chickpeas.

Storing

• Allow the soup to cool before storing.
• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
• Reheating: Reheat in a pot on the stovetop or in the microwave. The soup will thicken after storing, so stir in additional water or broth to adjust the consistency if desired.