Carrot and Red Lentil Soup Recipe
This cozy carrot and red lentil soup comes together in about 30 minutes, with cumin and smoked paprika adding warmth and depth. Blend it until silky, then finish with lemon juice and heavy cream or cashew cream for a comforting, easy-to-customize meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ⅓ cup heavy cream or cashew cream
Instructions
- Soften the onion.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add the aromatics.
Stir in the garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, and tomato paste. Cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Cook the carrots briefly.
Add the sliced carrots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer the soup.
Add the rinsed lentils, vegetable broth, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 18–22 minutes, until the carrots and lentils are very tender.
- Blend until smooth.
Use an immersion blender to blend the soup in the pot, or carefully transfer it to a countertop blender in batches. Take care when blending hot liquid.
- Finish and season.
Stir in the lemon juice and heavy cream or cashew cream. Taste and adjust the salt as needed, then serve warm.
Notes
- For a dairy-free and vegan soup, use cashew cream.
- Blend carefully in batches if using a countertop blender, and avoid filling it too full with hot soup.
- Add a splash of vegetable broth or water if you prefer a thinner consistency.
- Nutrition is estimated per serving using heavy cream and may vary with ingredient brands and substitutions.
Find it online: https://recipethrive.com/carrot-and-red-lentil-soup-recipe/
