It's soup day here on WGC and this Curry Lentil Soup is going to go right up there with your other favs like Chicken Tortilla Soup, Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili, and Potato Leek Soup I can guarantee it! No questions asked!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Soups are an essential part of the next few months. And we are solid when it comes to soups here on WGC over in the soup section - but one that kept popping up from your requests was a lentil soup! I'll be honest, I was hesitant at first because I was somewhat skeptical of lentils as a kid - but mix it with coconut milk and curry and a TON of garlic and ginger and I could eat this lentil soup every day.
This Curry Lentil Soup is the perfect soup no matter who you're feeding. It's naturally vegan, incredibly filling and packed with flavor from the curry and the coconut milk. All in all... it's perfection. And, if this soup is on your rotation and want to try something similar, try the curry coconut noodle soup, which is also delicious.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Coconut Oil
- Yellow Onion
- Red Bell Pepper
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Curry Powder red, yellow or green curry powders all work
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Lentils you can use any color lentils you have on hand
- Canned Crushed Tomatoes
- Cilantro feel free to sub for chives or basil
- Salt and Pepper
- Unsweetened Coconut Milk
- Limes
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below.
How to Make Curry Lentil Soup
Step 1: Heat the oil in a medium dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Step 2: Add garlic, ginger, curry powder, and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the lentils and cook for about 1 minute more, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Add tomatoes, cilantro, 2½ cups water and season with salt and pepper. Set aside a few tablespoons of the coconut milk and add remaining coconut milk to dutch oven.
Step 5: Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft but not mushy, 20-25 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
How to Store Curry Lentil Soup
You can store this soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. When time to eat, warm it in the microwave or on stovetop in a saucepan till its warmed through.
How to Freeze Curry Lentil Soup
You can freeze this soup for about 3 months in airtight container. It would be much easier if you pre-portioned before freezing. This way you can just thaw as much as you need overnight and just warm it through in a microwave or stovetop when its time to eat.
Tips & Tricks
You can use any color lentils you have on hand for this lentil soup recipe! And some goes for curry powder... red, yellow and green all work in this recipe interchangeably! The rest is pretty self explanatory. If you're anti-cilantro then use some chives or basil on top! Just promise me that you won't forget to garnish with the lime juice. That fresh pop of flavor really makes this lentil soup sing!
FAQs
Why is my lentil soup not thick?
It's usually because too much liquid was added or the lentil soup did not simmer long enough for the lentils to absorb all of the cooking liquid.
Can I use any lentils?
Yes, you can use any type of lentils you have on hand. Just keep in mind that cooking time may vary depending on the type of lentils.
Similar Recipes
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Curry Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
- 8 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 ½ inch piece of ginger peeled and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup lentils
- 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup cilantro finely chopped, plus more for garnish
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 13.5 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
- lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger, curry powder, and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the lentils and cook for about 1 minute more, stirring occasionally.
- Add tomatoes, cilantro, 2½ cups water and season with salt and pepper. Set aside a few tablespoons of the coconut milk and add remaining coconut milk to dutch oven.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft but not mushy, 20-25 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- To serve, divide soup among bowls. Drizzle with reserved coconut milk and top with plenty of cilantro. Serve with lots of lime wedges.
This is so easy and so delicious. My 10 year-old daughter loved it and asked me to make it again. Thanks!
Could I use TJ’s premade lentils for this recipe? Could I add them near the end or would it mess up the whole vibe?
absolutely
What kind of lentil are you using? Red, green or yellow
any work! My fav is red
We made this last week and this soup is SOOOO good! Thank you! 🙂
If I make this an hour early, can I leave it on the stove in the Dutch oven off heat?
100% yes
LOVE THIS RECIPE!! (And everything else from WGC). Easy to make, and great as leftovers.
Amazing recipe! How many calories are i. Each serving?
I don't track calories!! I'm not sure
Made this for lunch, it was delicious.
This is on our monthly rotation we love it so much. It’s also a dream when cooking for people with different dietary restrictions and choices! GF, Vegan, etc. and the naan recipe is not to be missed either! Holy moly.
I made a big pot of this soup to give as a birthday gift. Divided it into quart containers so he had some to eat now and some to freeze for later - and saved a quart for myself He loved it. Said it was the best lentil soup ever. I loved the rich creaminess of the coconut milk.
Made this yesterday for the first time...loved it & will be making in again & again & again!!! Am looking forward to the leftovers for lunch today.
Love this soup!! It's my lentil go to.
This was so good! Family approved! Adding to our favorites! Thank You Gaby!
Hands down one of my new fave Gaby recipes. The squeeze of lime at the end is super delicious- don’t forget to add it. Legit, this is easily my fave meal I’ve made the last 9 months ... and we’ve cooked a lot of Gaby’a recipes during Covid times (and loved them all!). This is easy to follow but HUGE flavor and tastes like something you’d get from a restaurant. But better. We served with Trader Joe’s garlic naan.
We love this! Such a great vegetarian comfort food option. Warm & cozy!