Lentil Soup
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This lentil soup is warm, hearty and full of rich roasted garlic flavor. It comes together with simple ingredients and makes the perfect cozy dinner any night of the week.
I did not grow up eating lentils, but once I started cooking with them I fell in love. They are quick, filling and always make the most satisfying soups. This roasted garlic version has a deep warm flavor that tastes way more complex than the work it takes. Everything comes together with simple ingredients and it always hits the spot when I want something nourishing that still feels easy.
I’ve made a lot of lentil soups over the years like my cabbage lentil soup and lentil stew with kale, but this one hits differently. The roasted garlic gives it such a rich depth of flavor and you can make it in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop which is always a win.
Table of Contents
“This was delicious and addictive. I woke up the next day and ate it for breakfast. I will never make another lentil soup!”
Why I Love This Lentil Soup Recipe
- Great for meal prep: It reheats well and the flavor gets even better after a day in the fridge.
- Amazing roasted garlic flavor: Roasting the garlic makes it sweet and mellow and it blends right into the broth.
- Naturally hearty: Lentils add plant-based protein and fiber so every bowl feels satisfying.
- Budget friendly: Every ingredient is affordable which makes this an easy weeknight staple.
Ingredients Needed
- olive oil – softens the onion, carrots and celery and helps build a rich base.
- onion, carrots and celery – this simple trio creates the savory foundation that makes every bowl taste so comforting.
- roasted garlic – the star of the recipe. Roasting gives it a sweet mellow flavor that makes the whole soup taste extra cozy.
- lentils – french green lentils, or brown lentils hold their shape and add plenty of plant-based protein.
- vegetable broth – brings all the flavors together. Choose low sodium broth so you can season the soup to your taste.
- diced tomatoes – adds brightness and balances the richness from the roasted garlic.
- tomato paste – deepens the flavor and helps give the broth more body.
- herbs and spices – oregano, thyme, paprika, cumin, and a pinch of nutmeg add warmth and aroma without overpowering the roasted garlic.
- bay leaves – add a subtle earthy note that rounds everything out.
- red wine vinegar – stirred in at the end to brighten the soup and wake everything up.
Find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Roast Garlic
The first time I made roasted garlic at home I fell in love. If you’ve never roasted garlic, you have to try it! Your entire house will smell amazing and it takes any recipe that calls for garlic to the next level. Here’s how to make it:
- Cut off the top – Cut the top of the garlic bulb off about ¼ inch down from the top. You want to make sure you’re cutting off a bit of each clove around the bulb.
- Prep – Place aluminum foil under the garlic bulb and drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil over top to cover the exposed cloves. Wrap the foil around the bulb tightly.
- Bake – Bake the bulb at 400ºF for 30-40 minutes or until the garlic is soft and golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Remove cloves – Once cool, pop each garlic clove out of its paper. Some cloves slide out really easily while others need to be encouraged out!
How to Make Lentil Soup
This soup comes together with simple steps on the stovetop. Everything cooks low and slow so the flavors have time to blend.
Step 1: Warm the oil in a large pot, then add the onion, carrots and celery. Cook until the veggies start to soften and smell fragrant.
Step 2: Stir in the roasted garlic, lentils, broth, tomatoes, tomato paste and all the spices. Mix well so everything is evenly combined.
Step 3: Bring the pot to a gentle boil, reduce the heat and cover. Let the soup simmer until the lentils are tender.
Step 4: Fish out the bay leaves, add the vinegar and season to taste. Ladle into bowls and add any toppings you like.
You can also make this soup in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Find the full instructions in the recipe card below.
Brittany’s Tips
- Watch the simmer: Lentils cook best at a gentle simmer. If the heat is too high they can split or turn mushy, so keep the pot at a low steady bubble.
- Finish with vinegar: Do not skip the splash of red wine vinegar at the end. It brightens all the flavors and balances the richness from the roasted garlic.
How to Store Leftovers
Fridge: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. The lentils soften a bit as they sit but the flavor gets better each day.
Freezer: Lentil soup also freezes well. Let it cool then store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and warm on the stovetop when you are ready to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Green and brown lentils cook quickly and do not need to be soaked. A quick rinse is all you need.
Dry lentils work best because they hold their shape. Canned lentils can be used in a pinch but you will need to reduce the broth and shorten the cook time.
Green or brown lentils work best because they hold their shape and stay tender without turning mushy. Red lentils cook much faster and break down, so they will give the soup a completely different texture.
Sometimes. Lentils are harvested close to the ground so small stones or pieces of debris can make their way into the bag. It is always a good idea to pour them onto a baking sheet and pick through them before cooking. A quick rinse helps remove any dust too.
More Soup Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 sweet yellow onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 bulb roasted garlic, about 8–10 cloves, chopped*
- 1 (16 oz) bag dry French green or brown lentils, sorted and rinsed
- 2 (32 oz) containers of low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- pinch of nutmeg
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt + more to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper + more to taste
- 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Optional toppings: sriracha, avocado, fresh parsley, Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
- Using the sauté function on high, heat oil in the inner pot for about 1 minute, until shimmering. Add the onion, carrots, celery and cook for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and onions are turning translucent. Season with a little salt and pepper while cooking.
- Stir in the roasted garlic, lentils, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, paprika, cumin, nutmeg, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once the cooking is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick-release the remaining pressure.
- Remove bay leaves, stir in vinegar, taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Ladle soup into bowls and serve with toppings of choice. I personally love adding fresh parsley and a splash of sriracha.
Stove-Top
- Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery to the pot, stirring frequently for 8-10 minutes or until onions are soft and translucent. Season with a little salt and pepper while cooking.
- Add roasted garlic, lentils, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, thyme, paprika, cumin, nutmeg, bay leaves, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring every so often, for at least 1 hour or until the lentils are soft.
- Remove bay leaves, stir in vinegar, taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Ladle soup into bowls and serve with toppings of choice. I personally love adding fresh parsley and a splash of sriracha.
Notes
- Roasted garlic: The garlic can be roasted in advance and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. I highly recommend prepping it ahead of time to speed up the cooking process.
- Storage: Let the soup cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 4–5 days. It also freezes well, up to 3 months. Add a splash of broth when reheating if it thickens in the fridge.
- Lentils: Give your dry lentils a quick look before rinsing. It’s rare, but small stones or debris can show up in some bags, especially budget-friendly ones.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
I made the stovetop version. Super easy and delicious!! I love soup. I could eat it every day. I made the recipe almost exactly as shown. Maybe extra roasted garlic 🥰. I did not have red wine vinegar so used balsamic vinegar. We had BBQ chicken the night before so added some to each of our bowls. It was excellent.
I scooped out a little bit and tried the splash of Siracha. I didn’t like it, but after about a minute it sort of hit me in a good way, so I did add a splash to my bowl. New go-to recipe! Thank you
WOO! I am so happy that this recipe is a hit, Terry. Thank you for coming back and leaving your review + star rating, I so appreciate it!
Delicious. Made this recipe with Stove top directions since I don’t have an Instant pot or pressure cooker. It was a hit! Very tasty. Thank you Brittany. Love your recipes. Easy to make too.
Woo! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit for you, Maureen! Thank you for leaving a review and star rating, I really appreciate it.
I’ve made this a handful of times now and it never disappoints! SO good. The vinegar at the end and the roasted garlic make all the difference, and I love to top it with hot sauce. I have a question – can you freeze leftovers??
Hey Lauren – So pumped you loved this recipe!! Isn’t the roasted garlic such a game-changer? You can definitely freeze this – just let it cool completely and place leftovers in a sealed bag or airtight container. Leftovers should last in the freezer for 1-2 months. When ready to eat, take it out of the freezer the night before to thaw and heat up leftovers on the stove or microwave.
I have made a few different lentil soups in my instant pot and this is by far my favourite! It is so flavourful:)
Woo!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this lentil soup, Jen! Thanks for making it and coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me!
Delicious and easy to make. Thank you for all the great recipes!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Susan! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it.
Made this for dinner & served with grilled cheese 🙂
I used minced garlic instead of the roasted and I thought it worked great with some extra addition of salt & pepper.
Hi! I have a question I messed up and added the vinegar along with the other spices at the beginning (not at the end). The soup tastes sour. Do you have any suggestions on how to remedy this? I was thinking of sugar but I don’t know if that will make it taste funny. Thanks!
Oh no!! I think a little sugar would help!
This recipe has awesome flavor, especially for a vegetarian recipe (which I love that you have so many vegetarian recipes, so thank you for that!). I agree that the roasted garlic is a must! Plus it’s so simple and was kind of fun to try for my first time. However, I don’t know what I did but my soup ended up with no liquid when I was done with it 🙈 next time I make it, I’m either going to cut back on the cooking time or add more liquid from the start.
So glad you loved this recipe, Heather! Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it!
I made this three times (including this morning) since you first posted it. I was the one who asked if red lentils could be used; I ended up not using them as I know they would not have turned out as good. This soup is such a hit in my house and in my sisters house (sharing is caring). Thank you for sharing!!
Woo!! So glad this soup has been a hit. Thanks for coming back to leave a review, Dawn. I so appreciate it!
I want to make this for dinner tonight, but I only have minced garlic. Do you think it will totally ruin the flavor not having the roasted garlic?
The roasted garlic adds extra flavor, but minced garlic will work in a pinch. Let me know how it turns out if you try it!