Red Lentil Soup (Stovetop + Instant Pot Instructions) WITH VIDEO 🎥

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This Red Lentil soup recipe is the best! The soup is made with healthy ingredients and simple spices. It’s naturally gluten-free, vegan, and high in protein! You can cook this simple Lentil Soup in your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or on the stovetop!

If you are a big fan of Middle Eastern cuisine and looking for healthy lentil recipes, you must try this Red Lentil soup recipe! This recipe is inspired by Iraqi Shorbeh. It’s simply the best lentil soup recipe! The lentil soup is so smooth and no blending necessary!

This aromatic lentil soup recipe comes together quickly and yet loaded with flavors. It’s made with fragrant spices that many people can find in their pantry.

Red Lentil Soup Ingredients:

To make this vegetarian lentil soup you will need red lentils, fresh onion, fresh garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric, olive oil, and broth. To serve, you can add a small amount of lemon juice or lemon zest to add an extra kick to the broth!

Check Out More Middle-Eastern-Inspired Recipes:

• LAMB KOFTA KEBABS
• EASY ZA’ATAR ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST
• MOROCCAN COUSCOUS WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS
• CARROT AND LENTIL SOUP (HIGH IN PROTEIN!)
• INSTANT POT LAMB STEW WITH APRICOTS

Red lentil:

They are a little smaller than the green or brown lentils. These edible seeds are part of the legume family.  It’s a common food staple in Asian (such as in India) and North African cuisines.

Cooking red lentils is pretty easy! Red lentils split and cook very quickly. Therefore, they need no pre-soaking before cooking! They also have sweet and nutty flavors. This type of lentils is perfect to make delicious soup or sauce.

Lentils are packed with B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. Lentils are an excellent source for vegan or vegetarian diets because they are not only loaded with protein but are also enriched with iron and soluble fiber. They are an inexpensive whole-food staple!

How to Make the Red Lentil Soup on the Stovetop:

• Remove the debris from the lentil and rinse well.
• In a large dutch oven, add in the olive oil then gently sauté the onion for about 6-7 minutes
• Add garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook and keep stirring for about 1 minute.
• Now, it’s time to add the remaining ingredients; red lentil, and broth. Simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally to prevent lentils from sticking to the base of the pan until lentils are very soft and falling apart for about 30 minutes.
• No blending necessary unless you want it to be extra smooth.

Please keep in mind that stove-top cookers require more liquid than electric cookers. You may need about 1 cup of extra broth or more per recipe.

How to Make Red Lentil Soup in an Instant Pot:

This lentil soup is a great soup recipe that can be ready in your dinner table in less than 30 minutes from preparation to the cooking time with Instant Pot!

As always, I use onion as an important base to make good soup. I gently sauté the onion for about 6-7 minutes to bring out the natural sweetness and to add complex “umami” like flavors to the dish.

Here’s how to make Red Lentil Soup in an Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi:

• Remove the debris from the lentil and rinse well.
• Gently sauté the onion for about 6-7 minutes.
• Add garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook and keep stirring for about 1 minute. This is an important step to add a kick of flavor to dishes.
• Stir in the red lentil, and broth. Cook at high pressure for 8 minutes.
• Once the cooking process is completed, I quickly release the pressure.

CHECK MORE INSTANT POT SOUP RECIPES:

• INSTANT POT CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER (STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED)
• INSTANT POT CAULIFLOWER SOUP (LOW-CARB)
• INSTANT POT CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER (STOVETOP
• INSTANT POT BLACK-EYED PEA SOUP WITH HAM HOCK AND SPINACH
• INSTANT POT POTATO LEEK SOUP (NO FLOUR ADDED)
• INSTANT POT PEA SOUP – VEGETARIAN!
• INSTANT POT ROOT VEGETABLE SOUP
• INSTANT POT POTATO SOUP WITH BACON!
• INSTANT POT GREAT NORTHERN BEAN SOUP
• INSTANT POT ITALIAN SAUSAGE KALE SOUP
• PRESSURE COOKER PUMPKIN SOUP

Don’t Forget to Rinse & Pick Over Lentils!

Please do not skip this step and make sure to check for debris thoroughly. It’s very important to rinse and remove any stones, dirt, damaged lentils, or other debris before cooking.

To find debris, you can spread the lentils out on a flat surface so that all pieces are visible to you.

STORING LEFTOVER LENTIL SOUP:

You can keep this red lentil soup in the fridge for about 3-4 days! Lentils soup freezes well. Properly stored,  it will maintain the best quality for about 6 months.

I hope you’ll enjoy this lentil soup recipe!

Red Lentil Soup

You can cook this easy Red Lentil Soup in your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or on the stovetop! It's naturally gluten-free, vegan, and high in protein!

5 from 12 votes

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Keyword: red lentil soup, instant pot red lentil soup, lentil soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 223kcal

Author: Rika Livingston

Ingredients

• 1½ cups red lentil
• 6 cups broth
• 1½ tbsp olive oil
• 1½ cups chopped onion
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp ground coriander

Optional:

• Juice of half a lemon
• salt and pepper (to taste)

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

How to Cook Red Lentil Soup using an Instant Pot:

• Press the “Sauté” function key. Select a temperature with the “Adjust” key for “Normal”. When Instant Pot reaches the given working temperature, it displays “Hot” and you can start sautéing.
• Heat the oil and cook onion, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent and starting to soften for about 6-7 minutes.
• Add garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook and keep stirring for about 1 minute.
• Stir in the red lentils, and broth. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to keep the pan clear and nothing is stuck on it to prevent burning.

  Press "Keep Warm/Cancel" to stop cooking or follow the manufacturer's guide for turning off.
• Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook or manual on high for 8 minutes.

  After the cooking cycle finished, carefully move the Venting Knob from Sealing Position to Venting Position to quickly release the pressure. 
• Open the lid. Stir the soup. No blending necessary unless you want it to be really smooth!
• Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary! Serve with the optional lemon juice if necessary! Enjoy!

How to Cook Red Lentil Soup on the Stove Top:

• In a large dutch oven. Cook onion in oil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6-7 minutes.
• Add garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook and keep stirring for about 1 minute.
• Add red lentil and broth (use about 7 cups). Simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally to prevent lentils from sticking to the base of the pan, until lentils are very soft and falling apart for about 30 minutes. Add more broth or water if necessary.
• Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary! Serve with the optional lemon juice if necessary! Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Red Lentil Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 223 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 946mg41%

Potassium 506mg14%

Carbohydrates 35g12%

Fiber 15g63%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 518IU10%

Vitamin C 5mg6%

Calcium 41mg4%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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