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Hearty Red Lentil & Vegetable Soup

A thick, spiced lentil soup that's high in fibre and plant protein — cheap, freezer-friendly and genuinely filling.

Hearty Red Lentil & Vegetable Soup
Prep10 min
Cook30 min
Total40 min
DifficultyEasy
Base yield4 servings

Best for high fibre · plant protein · budget · satiety

High fiber
Batch cook Budget High Fiber Vegan

Red lentils break down as they cook and thicken the whole pot, so you get a substantial, almost stew-like soup without any cream. A squeeze of lemon at the end lifts it — don't skip that part, it's what stops it tasting flat.

Ingredients

Servings
servings
Scaling note. Doubles well in a big pot; add the stock gradually and stop when it's as thick as you like, since lentil brands vary in how much they drink. Thickens further in the fridge — loosen with water when reheating.
  • 200 g dried red lentils , rinsed
  • 200 g carrots , diced
  • 1 onion , chopped
  • 2 celery sticks , sliced
  • 400 g chopped tomatoes
  • 1000 ml vegetable stock
  • 4 g ground cumin not scaled
  • 15 ml olive oil
  • 1 lemon , juiced, to finish not scaled
  • to taste fine sea salt not scaled

Instructions

  1. 1

    Warm the oil in a large pot and soften the onion, carrot and celery over medium heat for 8 minutes, stirring now and then.

    ⏱ 8 min
  2. 2

    Stir in the cumin for a minute, then add the lentils, tomatoes and stock. Bring to a boil.

    ⏱ 3 min
  3. 3

    Simmer, part-covered, for 20–25 minutes until the lentils have collapsed and the soup is thick. Stir occasionally so nothing catches.

    ⏱ 22 min
  4. 4

    Season, then stir in the lemon juice. Blend briefly for a smoother soup if you prefer, or leave it rustic.

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