This Indian red lentil soup with carrots is hearty, thick, creamy, quick, and nutritious. With just a few simple ingredients like carrots, red lentils, and a blend of aromatic Indian spices, you'll have a steaming bowl of yummy, smooth, velvety goodness in no time.
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The charm of this soup? It's all about simplicity: chop up an onion, a few carrots, add some spices and liquids to a pot, and in just 20 minutes, voila! A warm, comforting dish ready to enjoy, even on those hectic no-time-to-cook days.
And let me tell ya, this soup has personality! It's bold. It's spice-packed. And totally unapologetic about it. It's the reigning queen of soups, perfect for those "blah" days when you need a little spice in your life!
Why This Red Lentil Soup Wins Hearts
Minimal Effort, Maximum Flavor
I'm always wary of recipes promising 'Just 10 minutes of work'-they rarely deliver. But after putting this soup through its paces, I'm singing a different tune. Chop an onion and a few carrots, stir in spices and liquids, and let the stove do the rest.
Speedy Results
Red lentils cook fast. Add finely diced carrots, and in about 20 minutes you've got a hearty, creamy soup-perfect for those hectic (or hangry) nights.
Sensational Taste
Carrots and lentils are mild on their own, but the garam masala takes things up a notch. Simmered with coconut milk and tomato, the flavor turns bold, cozy, and just a little unexpected.
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Nutrient-Packed Goodness
Lentils bring plant-based protein, iron, and fiber, while carrots add a burst of beta-carotene for vision, immunity, and skin health. Basically, a bowl full of feel-good fuel.
Interesting fact: Want to know how much protein you need? Use this handy calculator for all your nutrient needs!
Must-Have Kitchen Helpers
Basic tools go a long way: a good knife, chopping board, and pan cover the essentials. But a few handy gadgets make soup prep even faster.
Hand blender
For smooth, creamy soups, an immersion blender is unbeatable. If you don't have one, a good ol' potato masher will do the trick (almost) just fine!
Dicer
When you've got multiple carrots to dice, a vegetable dicer saves time and effort. I use the Nicer Dicer (cute name, right?), but any good-quality option will do.
Economy peeler
A sharp peeler makes thin, even carrot strips and minimizes waste. I like the WMF peelers-they're simple but effective.
Without further ado, let's get cooking!
🍽 Recipe
Indian Red Lentil Soup With Carrots! (Vegan)
Ingredients
- 250 g carrots about 3 medium-sized
- 1 large red onion
- 3 tablespoons rapeseed oil or coconut oil
- 250 g red lentils
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1.5 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1-3 small red chilies chopped (adjust the spiciness to your taste, I usually use 1 chili)
- 700 ml tomato passata or the same amount of canned tomatoes of your choice
- 400 ml coconut milk
- 750 ml vegetable broth
- Salt
- Pepper
- Juice of ½ lemon (optional)
Toppings (optional)
- Cilantro or parsley leaves
- Handful of pumpkin seeds or peeled hemp seeds or both
- Vegan cooking cream or vegan yogurt
Instructions
- Peel and finely dice the carrots.
- Peel and chop the onion.
- In a large pan, sauté the onions in oil until translucent.
- Add the carrots and lentils and fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the spices and chili pieces and fry briefly until everything is fragrant.
- Deglaze with tomato passata, coconut milk and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the carrots are soft and the lentils are starting to break down.
- Puree the soup with an immersion blender until the desired creaminess is reached. (I prefer the soup to be somewhat chunky, so I leave some small carrot pieces.)
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you would like to bring out the flavors more, try adding the juice of half a lemon.
- Divide the soup between plates and serve sprinkled with your favorite toppings.
What's the Perfect Pairing?
Bread
This soup stands tall all on its own, okay?
But to round it out into a full meal, I love nothing more than a hefty slice of sourdough bread. Or, if you're craving something soft try it with a side of fluffy chapati (for dipping).
Puffed Rice or Corn Cakes
Now, this is where things take an interesting turn! Though a wee bit unconven-tional, the best pairings of creamy soups are in my opinion ... puffed rice or corn cakes. The crunch of the rice or corn cakes mingling with the silky smoothness of the soup? Definitely a texture experience for your senses!
Just a heads-up, though: when I say corn cakes, I'm not talking about those sugary sweet ones. No, no! I'm referring to the savory kind you'll find nestled among the salty snacks at your local grocery store. (In Germany, you can find these corn cakes or rice cakes everywhere.)
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I'm always curious. Tried this red lentil soup? How did it go? I wanna hear all about it. How did you serve it?
Drop the details below because we all love a fun twist or a lesson learned.
Wishing you planty of yummy soup delights,
Ramona
♥
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