Are you on the lentil train? Lentils are low in calories, high in nutrition, and budget friendly. Even better, they’re a good environmental choice since they make less of a climate impact than eating a burger. So here’s our favorite new way to eat them: the best ever vegan lentil soup. It’s so delicious, you’ll feel like you’re wrapped in a cozy hug. This vegan soup is ready to amaze you. Jump to the recipe—now.
Why people love this vegan lentil soup
To make sure this really was the best vegan lentil soup, we tested this recipe with a few of our readers. Luckily, this cozy soup went over better than expected with our real-life recipe testers! Here’s what they had to say:
“Made the soup last night. I loved the flavor. My husband said this could easily go into regular rotation at our house!” -Laura “I made your Best Vegan Lentil Soup and totally agree with the title of the recipe! Delicious!” -Sarah
Flavor secrets for vegan lentil soup
This vegan lentil soup is full of big flavor, despite being made only with plants. Some recipes rely on bacon or sausage to keep eaters coming back for more, but this one does it without meat or dairy. Even our kids love this healthy recipe! Here are the tricks to making a lentil soup that’s irresistible:
Sauteed fennel brings a nuance in flavor. Using fresh fennel in addition to onion brings a smoky, nuanced undertone to this soup. Find fennel in mainstream groceries in the produce section: it looks like a big onion with a fuzzy top (how to cut it!). Fire-roasted tomatoes lend a bright sweetness. Fire roasted tomatoes taste sweeter out of the can than standard tomatoes, which can have a bitter finish. If you can’t find them, grab the best quality canned tomatoes that you can. Adding garlic at the end of cooking amps the flavor. Garlic is usually added at the beginning of making a soup, when you’re sauteing the vegetables. But here you’ll throw in minced garlic at the end when the soup is done simmering. It adds even more flavor this way! Let the soup stand for 5 minutes to infuse the garlic aroma.
A few benefits of lentils
Lentils are not only tasty: they’re full of nutrition benefits and are inexpensive to buy! So this vegan lentil soup is not only good for your pocketbook, it’s healthy too. Here are a few of the major nutritional benefits of lentils:
They contain protein and fiber. Lentils have a large amount of plant-based protein. 1 cup of cooked lentils has about 18 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber (per Harvard). They are low in fat and calories. Lentils have virtually no saturated fat and are a low calorie food.
They’re good for the planet, too!
Just what do lentils have to do with the planet? More than you may think. A recent New York Times article on food and climate change indicated that the world’s food system is responsible for about ¼ of the planet-warming greenhouse gases. The chart in the article shows the difference between beef and lentils (grouped under Beans). Beef accounts for 40 times more greenhouse gases than lentils. If that’s not motivation to make a vegan lentil soup once in a while, we’re not sure what is! For more ideas for what to make, try this lentil salad or lentil curry. Or, check out our top lentil recipes or vegan lentil recipes.
Lentil soup variations
Here are a few variations on lentil soup that you might enjoy:
Got an Instant Pot? Make this exact soup using Instant Pot Lentil Soup! In the mood for curry flavor? Try our Curry Lentil Soup. Want a pureed soup? Try our Creamy Red Lentil Soup. Want to add even more veggies? Our Butternut Squash Lentil Soup is a perfect fall dinner: it also stars leeks and leafy green kale.
What to serve with lentil soup
What to serve with this lentil soup? Just a soup does not a meal make! (Unless you eat a few servings, which we often do.) Here are a few things we’d serve with this soup:
Bread: Artisan Dutch Oven Bread and Multigrain Bread are perfect with soup: both are vegan and the latter is full of whole grains. If you’re up for a bread challenge, try our Best Sourdough Bread. Cornbread: Amplify the cozy with a moist and lightly sweet cornbread: try Homemade Cornbread, Classic Cornbread Muffins or Easy Vegan Cornbread. Popovers: If you’re not going for a fully vegan meal, this Popover Recipe makes fluffy, eggy poofs that pair perfectly with soup. Salad: An obvious choice. We’d suggest our Favorite Chopped Salad, Easy Arugula Salad, or Best Tossed Salad.
This lentil soup recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
More with lentils
There are lots more lentil recipes that are a tasty way to incorporate this superfood into your diet. Here are a few you might enjoy: 4.8 from 11 reviews
Lentil Salad or French Lentil Salad It’s easy to make this unique variety of lentils taste incredible! This lentil salad features a Dijon dressing, shallots, goat cheese and fresh mint. Hearty Lentil Stew Packed with hearty flavor and loaded with plant based protein: perfect for a simple lunch or dinner! Lentil Curry Go for this simple, tasty meal made with lentils! Seasoned Brown Lentils An easy lunch or dinner idea: lentils! This basic recipe makes perfectly seasoned lentils to eat as a fast meal, or use in tacos, salads, and more. Masoor Dal (Indian Red Lentils) A spiced Indian lentil dish that’s equal parts flavorful and cozy; serve with rice or naan bread for dipping.
