Meet the BEST lentil soup recipe! Made with dried lentils, fresh vegetables, flavorful spices, and hearty greens, it's simple, nourishing, and delicious.
This lentil soup recipe might surprise you. Sure, it’s simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s bland or boring.
This lentil soup is packed with hearty greens, tender vegetables, and fiber- and protein-rich lentils. Fresh herbs and spices fill it with complex flavor, and a splash of vinegar adds a delicious tangy kick.
It’s not just my best lentil soup recipe—it’s one of my best recipes, period. It’s been a staple in my rotation for years. I love that it’s easy to make with mostly pantry ingredients and that it’s nourishing, warming, and satisfying. If you ask me, it’s the perfect healthy dinner for a winter weeknight (save any leftovers for lunch the next day!). I hope you love this classic lentil soup as much as I do.
Lentil Soup Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this lentil soup recipe:
- Lentils, of course! I recommend using green or French green lentils because they hold their shape in the soup, adding satisfying texture. Brown lentils are also a fine option. Don’t use red lentils here—they’re too mushy for this recipe.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – For richness.
- Onion, garlic, carrot, and celery – They create the soup’s aromatic base.
- Fresh kale – You’ll use the whole leaves, stems and all!
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes – I love the smoky flavor that fire-roasted tomatoes add to this soup. In a pinch, regular diced tomatoes will work here too!
- Vegetable broth – Make homemade vegetable broth, or use store-bought.
- Fresh thyme – For citrusy, woodsy flavor. I like to bundle whole sprigs together with kitchen twine. Then, I add the bundle to the soup like a bay leaf, removing it before serving. Bundling the sprigs like this is SO much quicker than picking and measuring the leaves.
- Cumin – The secret ingredient! It adds savory, earthy depth of flavor.
- White wine vinegar – It gives the soup a bright, tangy kick.
- And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Variations
Don’t have these exact ingredients on hand? These swaps work nicely:
- Replace the kale with another leafy green like fresh spinach or Swiss chard.
- Use 1 teaspoon dried thyme instead of the fresh sprigs.
- Replace the celery with 1 small fennel bulb, diced.
- No vinegar? No problem. Finish the soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice!
How to Make Lentil Soup
This lentil soup recipe is easy to make! Here’s how it goes:
First, sauté the aromatics. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion, carrots, celery, kale stems, and cumin. Season with salt and several grinds of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies soften, about 8 minutes.
Next, simmer the soup. Add the garlic, tomatoes, lentils, vinegar, thyme, and broth.
Cover the soup and cook until the lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes or so. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer.
Finally, add the greens. Cook until they wilt, about 5 minutes, and then season to taste.
Serve the lentil soup in bowls topped with garnishes like fresh parsley, grated Parmesan, and/or red pepper flakes. Enjoy with crusty bread!
Love cooking soup in the Instant Pot? I have an Instant Pot version of this recipe! Check out my Instant Pot Lentil Soup.
How to Store Lentil Soup
Got leftover soup? You’re in luck! It will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
I actually like this soup better leftover. The flavor only improves as it sits in the fridge!
Can you freeze lentil soup?
Yes, this vegan lentil soup is freezer-friendly! Allow it to cool to room temperature, and then seal it in airtight containers or jars, leaving an inch for the soup to expand at the top. Freeze for up to 3 months.
More Favorite Soup Recipes
If you love this lentil soup, try one of these nourishing soup recipes next:
- Minestrone Soup
- Cabbage Soup
- Vegetable Soup
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Vegetarian Chili
- Black Bean Soup
- Tomato Soup
- Or any of these 35 Best Soup Recipes!
Best Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 medium carrots, chopped (2 cups)
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 6 small or 3 large kale leaves, stems finely diced, leaves chopped (8 cups)
- Heaping ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 (14-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- ¾ cup dry green lentils, rinsed
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 12 fresh thyme sprigs, bundled
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Red pepper flakes
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, kale stems, cumin, salt, and several grinds of pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, lentils, vinegar, thyme, and broth. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Add the kale leaves and cook for 5 minutes, or until wilted.
- Remove the thyme bundle and season to taste. Serve topped with the parsley, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
Made this for lunch this week as it been so cold and it was delicious! Will definitely make again!
Made this for lunch as it’s been so cold and it was delicious! Will definitely make again!
This soup was really easy to make and had lots of flavour. Love the kale (and stems) – it adds both texture and flavour. I’m looking forward to enjoying leftovers for lunches this week!
What a delicious dish! So flavorful and nourishing. It came together quickly with two of us prepping and I used french lentils and minced the garlic. It’s definitely going in the recipe box! Thanks!
This was good. Thanks for the recipe.
This was good. Thanks for the recipe.
Loved the recipe! I’ve never used the stems of kale in a recipe…I really liked how they added extra texture and flavor to the soup. I will definitely be making this soup again.
Absolutely loved this recipe! So nostalgic and comforting while being super healthy and nourishing. This lentil soup is new family favorite this winter. Thank you for this recipe!
I made this yummy soup for hubby and me last weekend – it was so good that we ate it up too soon for me to snap a pic! Absolutely love the flavor profile and the abundance of veggies! I love all the Love and Lemon soups I’ve tried so far 🙂
I made this for my daughter when she got back from a ski trip. The French lentils make it cute! This soup is fun and easy to make, and I absolutely love all the veggies.
I made this soup last night as-is, except that I only had regular diced tomatoes, not fire-roasted, and it turn out just beautifully! Once everything is chopped, it comes together quickly and easily, and it’s absolutely delicious! I’ll definitely be putting this in the regular winter rotation. It’s healthy, easy, and makes great leftovers. Thanks for the great recipe!
Made this soup for the savory course of an afternoon tea. It was a rainy day, and this soup was perfect. It checks all the boxes as a hostess accommodating vegetarians and gluten-free guests. The meat eaters enjoyed it too!
Hello
Thank you for pushing me out of my cooking comfort zone. This recipe was easier than I expected and tasted great ! We had leftovers after work too!
Love and Lemons cooking is so much fun!
Added a sprinkle of nutritional yeast and a side of toasted sourdough bread. Comforting and healthy soup for cold January.
So so yummy!!
Game night tonight…the girls are gonna love this!
Hi Tracy, I hope the soup is a hit!
SO DELICIOUS! A perfect winter soup, and a great way to get your greens during these cold months. Will be making this on repeat.
Hi Courtney, I’m so glad you loved it!
Made this tonight for my family. Hit the spot on a very cold day. So easy to make and felt so healthy
Hi Kaitlin, I’m so glad you loved the soup!
This is a nice lentil soup recipe. I liked adding the parsley and pecorino cheese on top.
Hi Tiffany, I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup!
I love this lentil soup! It is easy to make and delicious 🙂
Hi Angelica, I’m so glad you love the soup!