Are you in need of healthy, budget-friendly, and flexible meals? I can’t believe I haven’t posted about my busy mom’s specialty: my lentil soup recipe.
I make lentil soup at least every two weeks when the weather is cool.
Recently, my team was planning a kitchen and dining area for a small family. They had bought a bag of malimba because it seemed like a good idea, but they admitted that they didn’t know what to do with the pods. We kept the couple’s Crock-Pot within easy reach, and I promised to send them my recipe for an easy-to-use soup for breakfast.
Just a note, I used to have a recipe plug-in on my site, but as technology has changed, it has become difficult. You can easily copy-paste the recipe, or you can just print the first 1 or 2 pages of this article, if you want to print it.
Type of Recipe: soup
Author:
Preparation time:
Cooking time:
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It works: 6-8 cups
Use dried lentils in this easy and satisfying soup.
- 1 bag (about 2 cups) dried lentils
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped (optional)
- 1 cup frozen brown potatoes or 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
- 6-8 cups broth, any flavor (Or alternatively, 6-8 cups water and 3-4 tsp of Better Than Bullion paste)
- 1 T mix ginger paste
- 1 T soy sauce
- A splash of olive oil (about a tablespoon)
- (optional) The day before, soak the lentils in cold water for at least 8 hours.
- Wash the lentils well and run your hands through them, to remove the small stones from the pockets.
- Combine all ingredients in your slow cooker.
- If needed, add enough water to cover the ingredients in the crock by at least an inch.
- Cook on high for 6-8 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.
Optional: top with croutons or shredded cheddar cheese.
Benefits of Effortless Lentil Soup
OK, there’s a lot to like here. If you are not a vegetarian, this soup stands alone. If you’re not a vegetarian, you can add leftover scraps of whatever’s in the fridge, like sausage, ham, or roast chicken.
There are not many spices in this soup. If you use canned broth and a splash of soy sauce, there is already enough salt.
When I started using ginger paste, it really enhanced the depth of flavor in this soup. Ginger has not always been part of my spice posse. I used to buy raw root and not use it fast enough. But the stir-in paste makes it much easier to proceed, and it beats this soup just enough. I recommend not to skip it. I buy mine at Aldi, but you can find ginger paste here online (affiliate link). Keep it in the fridge.
Lentil Soup is Good for Healthy Living
I am a big fan of slow cooker recipes. I keep them simple so they are what I call “throw and run meals”. The less preparation, the better. If you can throw away a few things, stir once, and have dinner waiting for you when you get home, that’s the perfect definition of organized living in my book. I added frozen corn to this batch.
It takes longer to film and narrate how to put together a batch (just under 6 minutes) than it actually takes to make lentil soup. You’ll notice that I don’t measure anything, so there aren’t even measuring spoons or cups to wash. This recipe is very forgiving, so add or adjust your ingredients to your taste. I often throw in frozen corn, especially if I don’t have potatoes ready to roll.
Here is that video. (<< If the video below doesn't work, click on that link.)
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Lentil Soup Prep The Secret to Keeping Ingredients Time-Saving
This recipe cuts out onions, carrots, and maybe potatoes, but I even got a hack for that last one: frozen hash browns! Not hash brown patties, but frozen potato chips. I forgot to take a picture of this one, but you can find them at your local grocery store, and they are a huge time saver. (I show them in the video, above.)
Minced garlic is also a big time saver. I prefer fresh garlic, but if I’m throwing up and running in the morning, I reach for that jar in my fridge, for sure.
Technically you could use frozen onions and carrots, too, but fresh onions and carrots will give you a nicer, tastier soup.
But Will Kids Like Lentil Soup?
There are many different types of lenses. I have always worked with your green lentils. Those are readily available in the US. When my children were young, I found red lentils, small, soft, and quick to cook. Red lentils don’t hold up well in this stew-style soup, but they’re a great baby food served alone. They are similar to couscous in the way they cook quickly and appeal to children. But for this recipe, stick to green lentils.
My teenage daughter, a self-proclaimed vegetarian, recently said to me, “Mom, we MUST have lentil soup in the fridge at all times.” So, yes, kids will probably love it. Especially if you serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich or with cheese and crackers.
Health Benefits of Lentil Soup
If you’re looking for good sources of iron and many other healthy elements, lentils are second to none. According to Lentils.org:
Did you know? Just 1/2 cup of cooked lentils provides 15% of your daily iron needs! Iron plays an important role in the formation of hemoglobin in the blood and myoglobin in the muscles, both of which carry oxygen to the cells. This is why tiredness and fatigue are often the first symptoms people notice when they are iron deficient. For vegetarians, getting enough iron is especially challenging. Including lentils regularly in your diet can help increase your iron intake.
But…Are Lentils Not Technically Beans?
I know what you’re thinking. Yes, lentils ARE in the legume family along with all beans. However, I don’t find that they produce the same musical effects as other beans. 🙂 Anyway, if you’re worried, you can soak them overnight, which makes the beans less… noisy.
Being full of fiber, it gets your digestive system moving, which can be a great antidote to holiday overindulgence. Another reason to keep it in the fridge. It is also very cold.
Are Lentils Easy to Prepare?
I love how my lentils look in mason jars, next to rice, popcorn, and beans.
Is Lentil Soup Budget Friendly?
In short, yes. Taking the condiments out of the equation, because you probably already have those in the fridge or pantry, this soup costs about $10 to make. We usually get two family meals out of it, and one or two lunches. I’m rooting for Team Left, all the time! Since all the ingredients are pantry (or fridge) staples, it’s always ready to go.
Looking for More Recipe Ideas?
I store my lentils and other pantry items this way: Attractive Dry Goods
More recipes, more for the slow cooker, here.