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Easy Tortilla Soup with Red lentils. 1 Pot 30 Minutes! Make it in a saucepan or Instant Pot. Add veggies of choice, garnish with tortilla chips or avocado. Vegan Gluten-free Soyfree Nut-free Recipe. Jump to Recipe
This easy 1 pot tortilla soup has red lentils, peppers, tomato, veggies that you want and a few spices. Put everything in a saucepan and simmer until done. I like red lentils in this soup as they cook quicker and make for a lighter dinner. Beans can be an issue for some for dinner, and this works out perfectly. You can also add in some uncooked washed quinoa while simmering. Add veggies of choice and serve with garnishes of choice. See Video Below.
Few ingredients, 1 pot, filling and quick. whats your favorite addition to tortilla soups?
Serve this with 100% Whole Grain Dinner Rolls, Gluten-free Garlic rolls, tortilla strips or biscuits.
More 1 Pot Soups
- Broccoli Slaw Soup,
- Turkish lentil soup,
- Turmeric Laksa Curry Soup with fresh turmeric root,
- 15 min Indian Spiced tomato Soup,
- Minestrone
- Mushroom chickpea greens soup.
If you make this simple soup, do tag me on Instagram!
What lentils to use in this tortilla soup
There are so many different lentils and names for them. Red Lentils come in various varieties. Red whole and unskinned lentils look brown and are called Indian brown or brown lentils, which take about 30 minutes to cook in a saucepan. When skinned, they are whole red lentils, called red lentils(!), take about 18 to 22 minutes. These are not as easily available. When skinned and split, they are called red lentils or masoor dal, which are quick cooking (11 to 13 mins) and are easily available. I use the split red lentils in this tortilla soup.
In recipes and shops the split and whole red lentils are often used interchangeably. There are many recipes on the blog that use red lentils by which I mean the split red lentils. Either will work here, the whole red lentils will just take a few minutes longer to cook.
Video:
1 Pot Lentil Tortilla Soup (Instant Pot or Saucepan)
Ingredients
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 3 to 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp oregano and thyme
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne or chipotle pepper powder or both
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup red lentils, quick cooking lentils - masoor dal, washed and drained
- 2 cups water or broth
- 2 large tomatoes, finely chopped, or 1.5 cup crushed tomatoes from a can
- 1 to 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 to 1 cup water or broth
- 1/2 tsp or more salt
- 1 cup cooked black beans
- Crumbled tortilla chips for garnish, avocado and other garnishes and lime juice
Instructions
- Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes Add jalapeno, bell peppers and mix and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the spices and herbs and mix in. Add a pinch of allspice or loves for additional flavor if you wish. Add the washed and drained lentils and water and cook for 11 to 12 minutes or until al dente.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, mix well. Add other additions such as 1/2 cup corn or cooked black beans or other beans, veggies, some chopped up corn tortilla at this point. (I make the soup with or without beans , pictured without beans). Cook for 10 minutes or until desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt and heat.
- Add a dash of lime juice, garnish with chips, avocado, cilantro. See IP instructions in Notes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this recipe today. I was generous with the spices, used vegetable broth in place of water, blended three tomatoes with a little broth instead of diced tomatoes, added corn . I also had the time to make my own tortilla strips in the oven. The cilantro and lime juice adds so much flavor. Both of my picky eaters had a bowl. This will be in weekly rotation at my house during the cold, rainy weather. Loved it so much I even walked some over to my friend who also enjoys vegan food. Thank you !
that sounds great! thanks for stopping by
This is delicious! When my husband (meat eater) has seconds, it’s a winner! I made it in my IP, so quick and easy too. Thank you 👍
Prepared with whatever available … Tasty ! Thanks Richa
So glad!
This is a delicious and filling soup. I subbed a cubanelle pepper for jalapeño. Just the right heat and lots of flavor!
Hi. I would like to cook this is a sauce pan and double the recipe. I am confused about the amount of water to use…since it is stovetop, do I double the amount of water? Is the note about not doubling the water refer to cooking in the instant pot? Thank you!
thats for stove top, use a bit less than double water (1/2 cup less) and double everything else.
OMG..It was terrific..I tripled it. I used 5 cups of water and it came out more like a stew but I liked it that way. I used 2 jalapeños and 1 tsp of smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp of chipotle powder. Other than that I tripled everything…yummy yummy
yay!
If you double or triple this should you be double or triple everything? If you triple, use the 8 qt?
you’ll need a bit less water and a bit less heat than double, triple. cooking time will remain the same. For triple, add an extra minute
So yummy and easy. My whole family loved it. Thank you for a great recipe!
yay
I have made this recipe so many times, without any oil or tortilla chips.
I don’t bother with the amounts listed here, I always double it and eat it for a couple of meals.
Thanks Richa!
Very easy and delicious! Like others, made a few substitutions based on what I had on hand (white onion instead of red, garlic powder instead of fresh, one whole red bell pepper), but otherwise followed as instructed for the Instant Pot. Served over leftover brown rice and topped with cilantro, lime & tortilla chips. Will make great leftovers.
yummy, perfect for leftovers
Simple, filling and quick. From prep to table in about 30 minutes with the Instant Pot. We were out of jalapeños so I substituted a few Thai chilies and a small can of diced green chilies and it had a nice heat to it.