Name: Lentil Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: American

Balancing Bowls Verified

January 30, 2026

This hearty lentil soup is a wonderful combination of cozy comfort food and nutritionally packed health food. Cooked with dry lentils, made with pantry staples, and finished with a squeeze of lemon juice, this vegan lentil soup is flavorful and filling. This might be my favorite soup for a tasty and satisfying lunch on a cold winter day.

From the Cook

1/8

Lentil Soup

Balancing Bowls Verified

Ingredients

WarningMilk and 6 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle kosher salt and stir in minced garlic and sauté for another minute.

Add chopped carrots and celery, stirring occasionally until they begin to soften, about 6-8 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste, ground coriander, ground cumin, paprika, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. Cook for 1-2 minutes, untill freagrent.

Add the rinsed lentils to the pot. Pour in the fire-roasted tomatoes (with their juices), chicken or vegetable broth and water and stir well to combine all ingredients. Drop in the bay leaves and fresh thyme.

Bring the soup to a simmer, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until lentils are tender.

Stir in the lemon juice for a fresh flavor.

Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

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My Calorie Intake

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Lentil Sorting Magic 🫘
Always sort and rinse your lentils before cooking to remove any small stones or debris that might affect the soup's texture and quality.
Aromatics Layering Technique 🧅
Sauté onions, garlic, celery, and carrots in olive oil slowly to develop a deep, rich flavor foundation for your lentil soup.
Spice Bloom Mastery 🌶️
Toast ground spices like cumin and coriander in the oil with aromatics for 30-45 seconds to unlock their full aromatic potential before adding liquids.
Acid Balance Trick 🍋
Add fresh lemon juice at the very end of cooking to brighten the entire dish and balance the earthy lentil flavors.
Liquid Ratio Precision 💧
Use a 3:1 liquid to lentil ratio, and add additional broth or water as needed to prevent burning and achieve your desired soup consistency.

Intelligent Tags

About the Cook

Balancing Bowls

I'm Nora! Balancing Bowls is the product of a slightly chaotic life, a need to make and grow things, and a love of creative cooking. If you're here because you're trying to feed your family well without losing your mind, you're in the right place.