This red lentil carrot soup is creamy, comforting, and packed with flavors! An easy one-pot recipe that only calls for simple pantry ingredients. Nutritious and filling, it is great as a light lunch or appetizer.
If you want something comforting and warm yet require minimal effort, this lentil carrot soup is for you! This cozy soup is made from a simple blend of red lentils, carrots, celery, broth, and various aromatics and spices.
Packed with protein and nutrients, this soup is filling enough to be a meal. I love topping my soup with roasted black beans and vegan sour cream for extra texture and flavor!
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💚Why you will love this recipe
- A creamy and heartwarming soup that is perfect for the cooler weather
- Nutritious, wholesome, and high in protein
- Fuss-free, easy to make, and is ready in 30 minutes
- Stores well and is freezer-friendly!
🥕What you will need
📃Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Lentils - I am using split red lentils. Whole red lentils can be used, but you might need to cook them for around 5-10 minutes more.
- Paprika - This recipe calls for regular paprika. You can opt for smoked paprika to give your soup some smokiness.
🍲How to make
Fry the aromatics - Heat a tablespoon of oil in a Dutch oven. Add onion, and saute until translucent. Add garlic and spices next and fry for another minute.
Saute the veggies - Now, add carrot and celery to the pan. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
Simmering - Add broth and lentils to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, and lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes or until the lentils are soft and mushy.
Blending (optional) - Blend the soup until smooth using an immersion blender. You can also blend it in a high-speed blender but do allow the soup to cool down slightly first. Season with salt and pepper.
Serving - Serve your red lentil carrot soup with chopped basil, chili flakes, or whatever else you fancy!
✅Helpful tips
- Rinse lentils thoroughly - Give red lentils a few rinses until the water turns clear to remove dirt and debris.
- Adding more broth - This soup is on the thicker side. Feel free to add more veggie broth if the soup is too thick for your liking.
- Soup will thicken as it sits - Hence, I recommend enjoying your lentil carrot soup while warm. If it does thicken significantly after sitting for a while, revive it by adding some veggie broth. Reheat it to a simmer before enjoying it.
- Keeping it chunky - If you like a chunkier soup, I recommend either blending half of the soup or skipping the blending altogether.
✨Variations and add-ins
Make it spicy - Add a generous pinch of chili flakes or cayenne pepper to your red lentil carrot soup.
Make it creamier - Substitute 1 ½ cups of broth with one can of coconut milk, either full-fat or light. You might need to add more broth if your soup thickens too much.
Higher protein - To further increase this soup's protein content and satiety factor, stir in chunks of vegan Italian sausages or vegan andouille sausages.
Lime or lemon juice - Squeeze on fresh lime or lemon juice just before serving. This gives some tang and jazz to this lentil soup!
🍞How to serve
Here are some fun side dishes/toppings to serve with your red lentil carrot soup -
- Toppings - Chili flakes, roasted lentils, chopped parsley or basil, black pepper, soy or Greek yogurt, shredded cheese (vegan or regular)
- Bread - Baguette, focaccia, sourdough, or flatbreads are great options!
- Side salad - I love serving this soup with a simple green salad, like my lettuce avocado salad.
- Sandwich or wrap - To make a heartier meal, serve your lentil carrot soup with a vegan egg sandwich, hummus wrap, or avocado toast!
❄️Storing suggestions
Fridge - Store soup in a sealed container, which will stay well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. As the soup will thicken after refrigerating, add a splash of water or broth to thin it out while heating.
Freezer - This red lentil carrot soup can be frozen for 3 months. I recommend portioning it out using containers or freezer bags before storing it so you will only take out what you need.
Reheating - Allow frozen soup to thaw in the fridge overnight. You can then reheat it on the stove or in the microwave. Add some water to thin the soup up if it gets too thick.
❔Commonly asked questions
Unlike beans, there is no need to soak lentils before adding them to soups. They cook easily in a reasonably short amount of time.
You can substitute red lentils with green or brown lentils in a pinch. However, they require a longer cooking time, and unlike red lentils, they do not turn mushy and creamy after cooking.
🍽️More vegan soups
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📖 Recipe
Red Lentil Carrot Soup
Equipment
- Dutch oven or soup pot
- immersion blender or blender (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 large carrot diced
- 2 stalk celery diced
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup split red lentils rinsed and drained*
Instructions
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a Dutch oven. Add onion, and saute until translucent.1 medium yellow onion
- Add garlic and spices next and fry for another minute.4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- Now, add carrot and celery to the pan. Saute for 2-3 minutes.2 large carrot, 2 stalk celery
- Add broth and lentils to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, and lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes or until the lentils are soft and mushy.1 cup split red lentils, 4 cups vegetable broth
- Blending (optional) - Blend the soup until smooth using an immersion blender. You can also blend it in a high-speed blender but do allow the soup to cool down slightly first. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve your red lentil carrot soup with chopped basil, chili flakes, or whatever else you fancy!
Notes
- Adding more broth - This soup is on the thicker side. Feel free to add more veggie broth if the soup is too thick for your liking.
- Soup will thicken as it sits - Hence, I recommend enjoying your lentil carrot soup while warm. If it does thicken significantly after sitting for a while, revive it by adding some veggie broth. Reheat it to a simmer before enjoying it.
- Keeping it chunky - If you like a chunkier soup, I recommend either blending half of the soup or skipping the blending altogether.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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