Interested in cooking some homemade soup for the cold winter season? Say goodbye to those depressing winter blues because we have what you are looking for with this wonderful spicy lentil soup recipe! With this simple and easy recipe full of legumes and warming spices, you won’t have to go out for a meal because you’ll have fun creating your own spicy lentil soup!
Spicy Lentil Soup to Keep You Cozy and Warm
A Little About Lentil
Lentils are small and colorful legumes that are great for making soups and stews. They are also ground into flour, and the plant is typically used for feeding domesticated livestock like chickens, pigs, and cattle.
The chief ingredient in your spicy lentil soup recipe is believed to be the oldest legume and native to the southwestern part of Asia. The seeds were found in ancient tombs of Egypt dating as far back as 2,400 BC. There is also evidence of cultivation as early as 6000 BC. Recently, these lentils are being cultivated across Asia and several parts of North Africa and Europe. Countries like India consider lentils as a staple food.
Lentils don’t just bring delicious flavor to your recipe, but they are also rich in protein and carbohydrates. They are a good source of B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, and calcium as well.
Let’s begin with our ingredients so we can start cooking this colorful spicy lentil soup!
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (roughly chopped)
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- 1 ½-inch ginger (peeled and grated)
- 1 large tomato (roughly chopped)
- 2 cups lentils (picked and thoroughly rinsed)
- 1 serrano chili pepper (chopped)
- A pot
- 7 cups of water
- Naan or other types of flatbread for serving
Cooking instructions:
Step 1: Prepare Lentil
Heat 7 cups of water in a pot and add 2 cups of lentils. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil.
Step 2: Add All the Spices
Add 2 tsp Kosher salt, ground turmeric, garlic, ginger, tomato, and chili pepper to the pot. Partially cover the pot and let it simmer over medium-low heat, frequently stirring until thick. This should take about 18 to 20 minutes.
After the soup is thick enough, stir in fresh cilantro. Add some water to the soup if you find it really thick and season with salt as desired. Stir the soup for another 5 minutes and it should be ready.
Step 3: Yogurt Mixture
Place the yogurt in a small bowl and add 2 tsp of water, mixing the ingredients thoroughly. Add a pinch of salt to the bowl and thoroughly mix to taste.
Step 4: Dig in!
Finally, ladle the soup in a soup bowl and top with cilantro and yogurt. Add more toppings as desired. Serve each bowl with naan or any flatbread available.
Notes:
Remove the chili pepper seeds if you want to lessen the heat. This recipe is perfect for a family of 4!
Here’s a video from Kenmore with Chef Kari Karch about how to make Moroccan Spiced Lentil Soup:
With this spicy lentil soup recipe, your family and friends will surely stay warm and merry this winter season. There’s nothing like a good-sized bowl of spicy lentil soup to satiate hunger and satisfy your soup cravings.
What do you think about spicy lentil soup? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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