Red Lentil Soup

Name: Red Lentil Soup Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2 large onions (finely chopped); 4 large garlic cloves (minced); 6 large celery stalks (diced); 5 large carrots (diced); 2 tablespoons oil (for frying); 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin; 1 tablespoon coriander (ground); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 3 cups red lentils (dry & rinsed); 9 cups vegetable broth (low sodium); 14 ounces can diced tomatoes (low sodium); 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro (finely chopped)

By Olena Osipov

5 from 13 votes

Sep 11, 2025

HP KF GF VG V

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Warm up with a bowl of flavorful Red Lentil Soup seasoned with cumin and coriander. It’s nutritious one pot meal with 19 grams of protein and 23 grams of fiber!

Red lentil soup in a bowl with a spoon. Linen towel and bread on a counter.

Why You’ll Love This Soup

Red lentil soup is not only healthy but incredibly filling and delicious! Its cousins slow cooker lentil soup and chicken lentil soup are also in our regular rotation and kids do not mind at all!

The flavors of onion, garlic, cumin and coriander will fill your kitchen with incredible aromas.

Packed with plant-based protein, fiber and iron from the split red lentils, this nutrient-dense red lentil soup recipe is delicious! One serving contains 19 grams of protein and 23 grams of fiber. Now, that’s a healthy soup!

Reader’s Review

This was a delicious dish and also filling.
Stephanie

21 more comments

Ingredients for Red Lentil Soup

Red lentils, diced tomatoes, broth, salt, pepper, coriander, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, cumin, red pepper flakes, oil.

Red lentils: While red lentils can be purchased as whole, most stores carry only split red lentils which is what you will need for this soup recipe. They are quick cooking and do not need soaking. And they are so cheap!
Vegetables: Diced onions, carrots and celery; plus garlic.
Oil: Olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil are great choices. Ghee, which is a clarified butter, will also work well.
Spices: Cumin, ground coriander, red pepper flakes and salt.
Diced tomatoes: Low sodium or no salt added diced tomatoes from a can.
Broth: You can use low sodium vegetable broth or even chicken broth if you do not need your soup to be vegan or vegetarian.

How to Make Red Lentil Soup

Diced onion, carrots and celery sauteed in white pot with wooden spoon.

Prep: Preheat Dutch oven or big pot over medium heat and add oil to coat the bottom.
Saute: Add the onion and garlic and begin to saute, stirring occasionally. Add celery and carrots and continue to stir.

Sauteed veggies with spices in a pot with wooden spoon.

Add spices: Add spices and red pepper flakes and continue to cook, stirring frequently.

Broth, red lentils and diced tomatoes in white pot.

Cook: Add red lentils, diced tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil and cover to cook for 20 minutes.

Red lentil vegetable soup garnished with parsley in white pot. Bread slices and linen towel on a counter.

Serve: Add parsley, give it a final stir and serve your red lentil soup hot.

Tips for Best Results

Skip the soaking: Lentils and split peas can be cooked from dried with no need to soak first.
Make it more creamy: Use an immersion blender to blend part of the soup for a creamier consistency.
Other lentils: You can use other color of lentils but keep in mind the consistency will be less blended. Neither green nor brown lentils break down as red lentils do. As well as cooking time may change.
Squeeze of lemon: Before serving, add a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten all flavors.

Red lentil soup in white pot scooped with a ladle and with parsley on top.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with Greek yogurt or sour cream and some chopped fresh cilantro or parsley. Some freshly ground black pepper is always restaurant quality good.

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How to Store and Reheat

Store: Store this soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If you have made a big batch, freeze in smaller amounts and thaw only what you need.

Reheat: Reheat red lentil soup on the stovetop covered on low heat.

FAQs

Can I make it in Instant Pot?

Yes. Quickly Saute your vegetables, then spices right in Instant Pot. Add red lentils, diced tomatoes and broth. Seal and cook on High or Manual for 10 minutes. Use Natural Release to avoid splattering of brothy soup mixture.

Can I make it in slow cooker?

Yes. Saute vegetables, then add spices in a skillet. Transfer to large slow cooker along with other ingredients and cook on Low for 4-6 hours or on High for 2-3 hours.