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1 Pot Vegan Lentil Soup made in Instant Pot or Saucepan. This Easy Lentil Vegetable Soup is warming, comforting and so filling. 30 Minute Freezer friendly, Everyday Ingredients. Gluten-free, Soyfree, Nutfree Recipe. Jump to Recipe
Lentil soups in various forms are pretty much a staple in the house. Whats not to love! A Comforting Bowl of delicious brothy or creamy, veggies and lentils that are cooked just perfect.
Soups make a great 1 Pot meal with any veggies added in. Adjust the cooking time based on lentils used (there are various types of lentils! which might need a few minutes less or more cooking time) and make it brothy/stewy, or creamy by blending some of the soup or adding some coconut milk. Simple spices such as cumin, curry powder(which you can change up or omit), garlic and tomatoes adding amazing flavor to the broth, with a good helping black pepper to add warmth and amazing flavor. So much deliciousness in a bowl! Use other spices and herbs for variations. See tips below to make the best lentil soup every time!!
More Soups from the blog
- IP Lentil Chili. GF
- IP Mushroom Wild Rice Soup. GF
- Japanese Veggie Curry. GF
- Instant Pot Lasagna Soup with Red lentils. – So Easy
- IP Potato Chickpea Soup. GF
- Tomato Soup with Tofu Croutons.
- Cauliflower soup. GF
- Tortilla soup with red lentils. GF
How to make amazing Vegan Lentil Soup !
- Lentils are not all same: There are Indian Brown(might also be labelled as unskinned/whole red lentils, Sabut Masoor(hindi)), Spanish Brown, Green, Puy, beluga, yellow, red(quick cooking lentils, dont use these in this recipe) etc. I usually use brown lentils as I prefer their texture and flavor. Green and other lentils will work as well. Green lentils might need additional 2 mins in the InstantPot and 10 mins in saucepan.
- Age of the lentils also can interfere in the time needed to cook them to your preferred doneness. Add more time if they dont get done enough, reduce the time a bit if they cook too soft in the given time.
- Mash some of the lentils with a spatula, blend some for a thicker soup, or add some coconut milk in the end for creamier.
- To double, double everything except heat and water. Use a bit less than double for both. So 4.5 cups water/broth for 1.5 cups lentils.
Step by Step photos
Vegan Lentil Soup Instant Pot or Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup broth or water, ,or use 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic , ,finely chopped
- 1/2 inch ginger , ,finely chopped
- 1 hot green chili, , finely chopped (optional), use mild or bell pepper for less heat
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin or ground coriander, or both
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 to 1 tsp garam masala , or curry powder or ethiopian berbere, or just use more of cumin or coriander
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme, or rosemary (optional)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 15 oz diced tomatoes, , or 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 3/4 cup sliced carrots, , or other veggies
- 3/4 cup lentils , or a mix of brown/green lentils, green mung beans, black eyed peas (check for debris, wash and soak for 10 mins if needed)
- 2.5 cups veggie broth or water, , 3 cups for saucepan
- 3/4 tsp salt, , less or more depending on if the veggie broth is salted
- 2 cups spinach or chopped quick cooking greens
- cayenne and lemon/lime juice to taste
- pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Start the Instant pot pressure cooker on saute. Add broth and let it heat up. Add onion, garlic, ginger, chili and pinch of salt. Cook until translucent 2-3 mins). Deglaze with a tbsp broth if needed in between.
- Add the spices and mix in. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 mins. Mash the larger pieces.
- Add the lentils, carrots, water/broth and salt and mix really well to pick up any stuck bits.
- Close the lid and Pressure Cook for 12 to 15 mins (depending on preference and lentils used).
- Let the pressure release naturally. Open the lid, and mix in the greens. Add some cayenne and lime juice. Taste and adjust salt and flavor. Mash some of the lentils with a spatula or blend a 1/2 cup of the soup and mix in for thicker soup. You can also add a 1/2 cup non dairy cream or coconut milk for creamy soup.
- Stovetop: Follow Step 1,2,3 in a saucepan over medium heat. You will need to cook a few mins longer at each step. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and continue to cook for 15 minutes or until the lentils are cooked to preference. Fold in the greens and cook for another 2 mins. Add lemon juice, adjust salt and pepper.
- Store the cooled leftover soup in a covered container in the refrigerator for upto 4 days and freeze for upto a month.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Very satisfying, flavorful and healthy! This will go in our rotation. I made it with your Pumpkin Cornbread. Great together!
This soup is amazing! Flavorful, warming, and filled with healthy whole plant food and spices. It came together easily in the Instant Pot and I know I will make it again and again. Thank you so much, and I look forward to an IP cookbook from you one day.
Thanks!
I made this last night and loved it! So delicious, warm, and aromatic; I can’t wait to have leftovers for today’s lunch. And I love that you give substitution options if one doesn’t have exact spices on hand. I can’t wait to try your other recipes, which also come highly recommended. Thank you for sharing your culinary expertise!
awesome! Thanks!
This is so good. It’s a new way to eat lentils in the winter that I absolutely love. Thank you
Thanks!
I, just today, decided to go vegan because I’m 43 years old with a lifetime of bad food choices and saw some awful footage of slaughterhouses. I was nervous about the change, and worried that bland food was in my future. This is the most flavorful dish I have ever made. Thank you for changing my mind. Awesome!
Thanks! Glad to hear about your transition. Its just good food. A lot of non-vegan food takes flavor from herbs, spices plant based ingredients! Take it slow and keep finding flavors and meals you like!
Trying to figure out how to make this with cooked lentils…I have a ton I wanted to turn into soup.
Use about 2 cups cooked lentils and 1 cup water(not 2.5), simmer for 10 mins on stove top.
What do I do if I don’t have a pressure cooker??
Stove top instructions are right below pressure cooker instructions.
Stovetop: Follow Step 1,2,3 in a saucepan over medium heat. You will need to cook a few mins longer at each step. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and continue to cook for 15 minutes or until the lentils are cooked to preference. Fold in the greens and cook for another 2 mins. Add lemon juice, adjust salt and pepper.
Loved this!! I used fire-roasted tomatoes. Now about to make a double batch since the first batch disappeared almost overnight 🙂 I think I’ll have to use my larger Instant Pot. I saw an earlier post about using slightly less liquid for a double batch. Will anything else change if I use the larger pot? Thanks, Richa, for all your awesome recipes 🙂
awesome!! no usually just reduce liquid a bit when doubling instant pot stewy/soupy recipes use less and maybe heat as some heat ingredients can add up with the heat in larger amounts. like green chilies, cayenne etc. time remains the same
I added a can of coconut mylk and it is amazing. More like stew and simply the best but then anything from Richa is!
❤️❤️🧡🧡
Very easy to follow recipe and all inhredients can be found in your pantry
thanks!