Homestyle Red Lentil Vegetable Soup with Fresh Mint
This cozy red lentil soup is the kind of warm, nourishing meal that fills the kitchen with comforting aromas while it simmers on the stove. Red lentils cook down with simple vegetables like onion, carrot, and garlic until everything becomes soft and flavorful, then the soup is blended into a smooth, hearty bowl. A few fresh mint leaves sprinkled on top brighten the flavor and add a fresh finish.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 240
- Protein
- 14g
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 small potato, diced (optional for extra thickness)
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon turmeric (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves
- 1 Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Start by rinsing 1 cup of red lentils under cold water until the water runs mostly clear. Set them aside.
- 2
In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.
- 3
Add the chopped onion and cook for about 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it softens and becomes fragrant.
- 4
Stir in the garlic, diced carrot, and diced potato, letting them cook for another 2–3 minutes so the vegetables begin to soften.
- 5
Sprinkle in the cumin, paprika, turmeric, salt, and black pepper, stirring everything together so the spices coat the vegetables.
- 6
Add the rinsed red lentils and vegetable broth, then stir gently.
- 7
Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 20–25 minutes, until the lentils and vegetables are very soft.
- 8
Once everything is tender, carefully blend the soup using an immersion blender until smooth and creamy. If you prefer, you can blend it in batches using a regular blender.
- 9
Stir in the lemon juice to brighten the flavor.
- 10
Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle fresh chopped mint leaves on top before serving.
- 11
Serve warm and enjoy while the soup is still comforting and fragrant.
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