This wonderful quinoa and red lentil soup recipe are very high in protein, with all the essential amino acids, and also very high in fiber, much higher than most grains. Also, Gluten-Free, and perfect for people with gluten intolerance. I have added mixed vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and celery to this quinoa lentil soup recipe. Feel free to add any vegetables of your choice. This Quinoa soup is a very healthy and great lunch or dinner recipe for weekdays and Kids friendly. Instructions for Instant Pot and Stovetop are included below. If you don’t have time, just dump all the ingredients and cook in the Instant Pot. 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.
Ingredients
Lentils: Red lentils (masoor dal) are used. I did not soak the lentils before adding them to the lentil soup. Quinoa: White or red quinoa would work here. Make sure to rinse it under cold water to remove the natural coating, called saponin, to avoid any bitterness before adding it to the soup. Oil: you can use any vegetable oil of your choice. Garlic: I have minced fresh 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 also swap for other vegetables 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. Spices: I have used ground cumin, turmeric, red chili powder (paprika), and garam masala to make Indian lentil soup. If you don’t have these spices, use curry powder. Salt & black pepper: for seasoning Greens: I have used baby spinach here. You can replace greens like kale, mustard greens, or chard with spinach. Freshly squeezed lemon juice
How to Make Quinoa Lentil Soup in Instant Pot
Firstly, wash and rinse the quinoa & red lentils, and keep them aside. Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil, and once it’s hot, add bay leaf, minced garlic, ginger, onions and saute until they soften. Then add carrot, celery, red bell pepper, tomato, quinoa, red lentils, dry spices like turmeric, ground cumin, red chili powder, curry powder (or garam masala) into the pot. Pour vegetable stock or water into the Instant pot along with some salt and black pepper. Furthermore, close the lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the instant pot to SOUP mode for 6 minutes. When the instant pot beeps, Quick Release (QR). Open the lid. Lastly, add the spinach, and lemon juice, and stir it all up. Adjust water and spices at this stage. Instant Pot Quinoa Soup is ready to enjoy!
Stovetop Pot Method
I haven’t tried this recipe personally on the stovetop, but you can follow the same steps as the instant pot in a large pot. Cook covered for about 20-25 minutes until lentils & quinoa are cooked well.
Serving Suggestions for Quinoa Vegetable Soup
Serve Quinoa Soup recipe with crusty bread and a salad.
Variations
Other Veggies: You can also add other vegetables of your choice, like green bell pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, and broccoli. Leafy Greens: You can replace greens like kale, mustard greens, or chard with spinach. Lentils: You can use yellow lentils (split moong dal) instead of red lentils (masoor dal). If you dont have celery or bell pepper, you can still make this dish without those. Tastes divine!
More Quinoa Recipes
Quinoa Fried Rice Quinoa Chickpea Salad Quinoa Pulao/Pilaf Lemon Quinoa Quinoa Biryani Quinoa Upma
More Instant Pot Soup Recipes
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Cream of Asparagus Soup Sweet Corn Soup Carrot Ginger Soup Lentil Soup Creamy Tomato Soup
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