Description
Tomato Lentil Soup is a hearty, creamy, one-pot vegetarian soup made with red lentils, crushed tomatoes, aromatic garlic, fresh ginger, warming curry spices, and coconut cream. This comforting recipe is easy to prepare, naturally rich in plant-based protein and fiber, and perfect for cozy dinners, meal prep, or healthy lunches.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the curry powder and garam masala, stirring constantly for another minute to bloom the spices.
- Add the rinsed red lentils and stir until evenly coated with the aromatics and spices.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and vegetable broth. Season with the salt and black pepper, then stir well to combine.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until the lentils are completely tender.
- Stir in the coconut cream and simmer for an additional 5 minutes until the soup becomes silky and creamy.
- If desired, blend part or all of the soup using an immersion blender for a smoother texture, or leave it chunky for a heartier consistency.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
- Serve hot, garnished with chopped cilantro, a drizzle of coconut cream if desired, and fresh lime wedges alongside crusty bread.
Notes
- Rinse the red lentils thoroughly before cooking to remove excess starch.
- For an ultra-creamy soup, blend the entire batch with an immersion blender.
- Add extra vegetable broth if the soup becomes too thick during cooking or reheating.
- Fresh ginger provides the brightest flavor, but ground ginger can be substituted in a pinch.
- Customize the spice level with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight before reheating gently on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 11 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg