Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe (2024)

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A quick and easy lemon lentil soup recipe with fresh thyme, cumin and a touch of saffron. Vegan, plant-based, healthy, hearty and gluten free, everything you should expect from a one pot, home-cooked meal in January. You can have this protein loaded meal on the table in 30 minutes and perfect to serve 4 people.

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Lemon Lentil Soup

Lemon and herbs bring magic to a simple pot of soup!

I wanted to do a riff on our red lentil stew from last week but without using tomatoes this time. A different flavor profile makes eating lentils on the daily actually exciting.

Instead of using plain vegetable stock here I opted for filtered water that I infused with just a tiny pinch of saffron threads I had in the pantry. A sweet, flowery aroma and beautiful color is what you get by just letting those two hang together while you get the base of this lemony soup going with the aromatics: onion, carrots, cumin and turmeric.

Lemon Lentil Soup Ingredient Notes

  • Aromatics – the usual suspects: onion, carrot and garlic sauteed together until softened and their sugars have concentrated to create the first layer of flavor.
  • Herbs – variegated lemon thyme is a favorite herb I grow in containers year round as it pairs wonderfully with so many dishes, especially this soup. You can do your own spin on this recipe and substitute the thyme with rosemary, parsley and even mint.
  • Red Lentils – the best lentil for a creamy quick soup. They break down fast and naturally thicken the broth. You could use brown or French lentils if you wanted to but those take way longer to cook and the color won’t be as pretty. Basically you’d be making another soup.
  • Spices – earthy cumin, a touch of turmeric, some spicy chili flakes, lemon peel and sweet floral saffron create a uniquely lovely flavor profile.
  • Lemon – the fresh kind to brighten up the final soup and control how lemony you really like it. Save it for last and serve extra lemon wedges on the side.
  • The Broth – you really could use a low sodium veggie broth if desired, however mixing some hot water with a pinch of saffron like I did will give you an instantly amazing broth with a unique aroma that really compliments this soup.
  • Add Ins – bump up the nutrition profile with micro-greens or chop up some Swiss chard leaves, kale or spinach to stir into the soup at the last minute just until wilted.

FAQ

How Long Does Homemade Lentil Soup Last?

Most homemade soups keep well for one week in the refrigerator in a lidded airtight container or jar. Leftovers can also be frozen and stored for up to six months in freezer proof mason jars or containers. Make sure to thaw them out in the refrigerator before reheating.

Do You Have to Soak Lentils Before Cooking Them?

Unlike beans, lentils have thin skins and do not need to be soaked before cooking. Specifically red lentils have a very quick cooking time of about 15 minutes which makes them ideal for quick, last minute meals. Make sure to pick through them and give them a good rinse.

How To Make Lemon Lentil Soup Creamy?

I pureed only about half of the soup for a creamy rustic texture. If you are looking for an extra silky and creamy finish add a splash of coconut milk and puree the entire batch preferably in a very powerful blender until obliterated. If you find that your soup leftovers have thickened a little too much just add a little splash of water or veggie stock to thin it out when reheating.

Reheating

You can reheat the soup on the stove top in a small sauce pan, or microwave for 2.5 to 3 minutes so long as you don’t use plastic.

Favorite Soup Recipes:

  • Amazing Vegetable Soup
  • Vegan Tortilla Soup
  • Creamy Corn Chowder
  • Spiced Chickpea Stew
  • Vegan Potato Leek Soup.

P.S. As always, if you make this recipe remember to come back here to rate it, snap a photo and tag us with #VeggieSociety on Instagram.

Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe (6)

4.60 from 5 votes

Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe

A quick and easy lemon lentil soup recipe with fresh thyme, cumin and a touch of saffron. Vegan, plant-based, healthy, hearty and gluten free.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:5 minutes mins

Cook Time:11 minutes mins

Total Time:16 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow onion - diced
  • 4 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 cup red lentils (rinsed and picked through)
  • 1 carrot -diced
  • 1/2 bunch thyme
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 tsp ground cumin + more to taste
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder (or to taste)
  • 1 strip lemon peel
  • 6.5 cups water or low sodium vegetable stock - hot
  • 1 pinch saffron threads (optional)
  • 1 pinch sea salt + more to taste
  • 2 tsp olive oil or a splash of water (omit oil for WFPB & Plantricious diets)
  • 1 lemon - cut into wedges
  • 1/3 cup micro-greens, cilantro leaves or fresh dill - for serving

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Mix the hot water or vegetable stock with the saffron threads and set aside.

  • Heat up a soup pot over medium low flame. Add the chopped onion with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Sautee for 3 minutes then stir in the carrots. Sautee together for another 5 minutes then stir in the garlic, red pepper flakes, cumin and chili powder.

  • Add the lentils, lemon peel and thyme and give everything a good stir. Pour in the saffron stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the lentils are cooked through.

  • Taste and adjust seasonings with the sea salt to your taste. Remove from heat and discard the thyme sprigs and lemon peel. Add the turmeric and using an immersion blender puree about half the soup just to give it a nice rustic texture. For an extra creamy texture use a powerful blender and puree the soup until silky smooth. (Totally optional but suggested.)

  • Squeeze in the juice from half the lemon and serve hot garnished with the micro-greens and the remaining lemon wedges on the side.Alternatively you can add a handful of dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, mustard greens or swiss chard and allow them to wilt in the last couple of minutes of cooking.

WFPB + Plantricious

  • To make the recipe compliant make sure to sautee in water and omit the use of any oil in the recipe.

    Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe (7)

Notes

  1. Lentils need No pre-soaking and are usually done in 15 to 25 minutes depending on the variety. Red lentils seem to cook the fastest 15-20 minutes.
  2. A cup of lentils contains about 18 grams of protein and 16 grams of fiber, they are also a great source of folate and minerals.
  3. Unlike beans, lentils do not contains sulfur so they don't produce gas.

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 12g | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 581mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2855IU | Vitamin C: 21.9mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 4.3mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: Lemon Lentil Soup, plant based, vegan,

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 194kcal

Author: Florentina

Vegan Soups:

Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How much lemon juice to add to soup? ›

How much lemon juice should you add to chicken soup? While you could easily add lemon juice to taste, Rachael Ray recommends using ¼ cup of lemon juice. Her recipe calls for adding the lemon juice at the very end of the cooking process when the chicken soup is already done, contrary to what you may be used to.

Why is my lentil soup tasteless? ›

To avoid a bland lentil soup, use a flavorful broth—whether that's homemade or store-bought chicken or vegetable broth. The other key is building flavor. To do so, use aromatics like onions and garlic, include fresh or dried herbs, and season well with salt and pepper.

Do you rinse lentils before making soup? ›

The other good news: Lentils don't need to soak as beans do (though you do need to sort and rinse them before cooking). Different types of lentils cook in different amounts of time. Red lentils are the fastest cooking and they dissolve as they cook and make for a smooth soup.

How long does homemade lentil soup last in the fridge? ›

Lentil Soup will easily keep for 5 days in the fridge, making it ideal for cooking on the weekend and serving throughout the week. And it also freezes 100% perfectly for 3 months – even longer!

How much lemon juice should I use? ›

How much lemon water should you drink? Stephens recommends using the juice from two to three lemons (about four to six tablespoons) throughout the day, and drinking one or two glasses of lemon water with meals, and one glass in between meals. But don't necessarily add lemon to every glass of water you drink.

What does lemon juice do to soup? ›

In this case, however, the lemon provides more of a flavor undertone that enhances other seasonings like thyme, parsley, and turmeric. According to trained chef Leetal Arazi, who spoke with Real Simple, you can bring a "zesty flavor" to your soup simply by adding lemon.

What makes lentils taste better? ›

If you don't have stock on hand, add onion, carrots, celery, garlic cloves and/or herbs to the pot. All of these are mild flavors that can jump in any direction depending on how you're going to use the cooked lentils.

Can you overcook lentils in soup? ›

4. Cooking them at too rapid of a simmer. Mushy, overcooked lentils are far from tasty.

How do you fix bland lentils? ›

Add a tablespoon of paprika and a small very very finely diced onion to the lentils after you have cooked them and stir in well. Leave on heat for a few minutes for flavours to blend. If you can't eat onion use a level teaspoon of Asa Foetida powder instead. Be sure and add salt to the dish.

Which color lentils are best for soup? ›

Red lentils are best for soups, curries, dals, and anything that craves a creamy, thicker, more comforting touch.

What to pair lentil soup with? ›

Pair this lentil soup with crusty bread or a hearty salad like my kale salad or sweet potato salad. It would also go well with a vegetable side dish like roasted cauliflower, roasted broccoli, or a baked sweet potato.

What happens if I forgot to rinse lentils? ›

It is generally recommended to rinse lentils before cooking them to remove any debris or impurities [1]. However, forgetting to rinse them before adding them to your soup does not necessarily mean that the meal is unsafe to eat.

Can I eat 5 day old lentil soup? ›

For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days or freeze it. And avoid letting soup set at room temperature for more than TWO hours. Don't put a large pot of hot soup directly into your refrigerator.

Does lentil soup taste better the next day? ›

Lentils are rich in protein, fiber, iron and folate. Lentil soup packs well for lunch in a leak-proof container, and it tastes even better the next day. This soup freezes and defrosts well. Make soup now and enjoy it later!

Why does my lentil soup turn brown? ›

As the veggies hit the boiling water, volatile acids are released into the water and are carried away in the steam. When the pot is covered, the steam and the acids it contains are forced back into the water. Once there, the acids react with the chlorophyll in the vegetables, turning them an unsightly shade of brown.

Should I add lemon to my soup? ›

Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line. Like a vinaigrette on a salad, the pickle on a burger, and the sour cream in a coffee cake, a squeeze of lemon gives chicken soup a game-changing brightness.

How much lemon juice do you put in warm water? ›

To make lemon water, squeeze half a lemon into 8 oz of warm or cold water. You can infuse more flavor or a health boost by adding a: few springs of mint. teaspoon of maple syrup or raw honey.

Should you add lemon juice during or after cooking? ›

When cooking with lemon juice, wait until the dish has almost finished cooking before adding it. This preserves the lemon's water-soluble vitamins, such as the famous vitamin C. You can also squeeze fresh lemon juice over just about any dish.

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