Soup is one of the easiest ways to pack a lot of nutrition into your diet. You can easily customize the produce and seasonings according to the region and availability. This Lentil Vegetable Soup needs significantly less prep and is easy to make in an Instant Pot in under 30 minutes. Enjoy it with a side of crusty bread, or serve it over basmati rice and salad on the side. I have included Vegan Lentil soup with coconut milk version too below. If you are looking for more lentil (dal) recipes, check Dal tadka, Spinach Dal / Palak Dal, Panchmel dal, Whole green moong dal from my blog. If you love Lentils & Beans and looking for more Instant Pot Indian Recipes? Here are my 22+ Instant Pot lentils & Beans Recipes you must try.
Green Lentils
Green lentils are naturally Vegan, Gluten-free, and rich in antioxidants, iron, and magnesium. According to the USDA, one-half cup of dried green lentils provides 24g protein, 10g fiber, 80mg calcium, and 4mg iron.
Ingredients
Here is everything you’ll need to make this healthy lentil soup recipe.
Lentils: Brown or Green lentils work best for this vegan soup. They will hold their shape and texture. I did not soak the lentils before adding them to the soup. Coconut oil: you can use any vegetable oil of your choice. Garlic: I have freshly minced garlic in this recipe. You can also add garlic powder instead. Vegetables: onions, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and tomatoes are added to the soup. You can swap for other veggies like broccoli, zucchini, and cabbage. Vegetable broth (or water): use vegetable broth if you want vegetarian or vegan lentil soup. If you don’t have, you can use water. Coconut milk: I have used thick coconut milk, you can skip it if you dont prefer. Spices: I have used homemade ground cumin, turmeric, red chili powder (paprika), and garam masala to make Indian lentil soup. If you dont have these spices, use curry powder. Salt & black pepper: for seasoning Greens: I have used baby spinach here, Greens like kale, mustard greens, or chard also can be replaced with spinach.
How to Make Vegetarian Green Lentil Soup in Instant Pot
Firstly, Wash and rinse the lentils, and keep them aside — Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil, and once it’s hot, add minced garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Next, add onions and saute until they soften. Add celery, red bell pepper, carrot, tomato, and green lentils into the pot. Then, add dry spices like turmeric, ground cumin, red chili powder, curry, or garam masala powder into the pot. Finally, pour vegetable stock (or water) into the Instant Pot along with some salt and black pepper. Close the lid on the pot. Set the instant pot to SOUP mode for 15 minutes. When the instant pot beeps, Quick Release (QR). Open the lid. Add in the lemon juice, baby spinach. Stir it all up until the spinach wilts. Green Lentil Soup is ready to enjoy! **This Soup usually becomes thick during cooking or storing. Hence, thin it out with a bit of water or vegetable stock.
Variations
Coconut Milk: I have also added ½ cup of full-fat coconut milk to the lentil soup in the end, but it’s totally optional. I love the flavor of the coconut milk in this soup. Other Leafy Greens: You can also add other greens like kale, mustard greens, or mustard chard. Lentils: You can use brown lentils instead of green lentils. Other Veggies: If you don’t have celery or bell pepper, you can still make this dish without those. Tastes divine! You can also add veggies like sweet potato, butternut squash, potato, or green beans.
How do I make Lentil Soup on a Stovetop Pot?
You can follow the same steps as the Instant Pot in a pot and cook covered for about 35-40 minutes until the lentils are cooked well.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Green lentil soup recipe with crusty bread, Indian flatbreads like roti, chapati, jeera rice, or basmati rice. But can be eaten with quinoa, brown rice, or even as a soup.
How To Store Lentil Soup
Make ahead: This soup is great for meal prepping. You can make it a day before and store it in the refrigerator. It tastes even better the next day. Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep well for up to 3 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container. Freezer: Lentil soup freezes well for up to 2-3 months when stored in Ziploc freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. Reheat: Reheat the soup in a microwave oven or stovetop until warmed through.
More Brown/Green Lentil Recipes
Brown Lentils Curry Lebanese Mujadara (Lentil & Rice) Instant Pot Brown Lentils Lentil Salad
More Instant Pot Soup Recipes
Broccoli Spinach Soup Creamy Tomato Soup Sweet Potato Soup Cream of Asparagus Soup Vegetable Lentil Quinoa Soup Carrot Ginger Soup Cauliflower Soup Potato Soup
If you love Soups and looking for more Instant Pot Soup Recipes? Here are my 18+ Instant Pot Vegetarian Soup Recipes you must try. ★ Like this recipe? FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube for more quick & easy recipes.
