Our spicy carrot and lentil soup is a comforting dish that combines the goodness of fresh carrots and tender lentils, a cozy soup perfect for a quick and healthy family lunch or dinner.
This spiced carrot and lentil soup is the perfect choice for an easy, flavorful, healthy, and delicious family dinner; a delightful blend of carrots and red lentils that warms your soul and satisfies your appetite; perfect for a soup lover.
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Why will you love this simple soup?
- Delicious, comforting, and hearty: The combination of carrots and lentils creates a flavorful and satisfying soup. It's a warm, comforting dish, perfect for cozying up on a chilly day.
- Easy: Simple steps make it accessible to all, even those new to cooking.
- Healthy soup packed with essential nutrients, it's a wholesome choice for a balanced diet.
- Budget-friendly: Both carrots and lentils are affordable ingredients, making this recipe cost-effective.
- Versatility: You can enjoy this delicious soup as a standalone meal or pair it with other dishes.
Check out more of our lentil soups: German Lentil Soup, Yellow Lentil Soup, Black Lentil Pasta Soup, and Turkey Lentil Soup.
Recipe ingredients
The recipe uses just a few basic ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge and cupboard.
- Carrots: Fresh carrots, peeled and chopped into small pieces.
- Red lentils are the ideal pick. They're budget-friendly, readily available, and cook rapidly, resulting in a creamy texture.
- Curry powder: A blend of flavorful spices that add a delicious taste to the dish. The amount can be adjusted to your liking.
- I used curry madras powder, but feel free to use your favorite curry blend. Check the spice levels and adjust the quantity to your liking.
- Fresh ginger and garlic give an aromatic kick to the soup.
- Vegetable stock: Homemade or store-bought vegetable broth or stock. Bouillon cubes are fine, and chicken stock can be used instead.
- Other ingredients: Olive Oil, red chili flakes (or red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to taste), fine sea salt or kosher salt, and ground black pepper. Fresh parsley or other herbs to garnish.
How to make carrot lentil soup?
- Prepare vegetables: Chop the onion, grate the ginger and garlic, chop the carrots and celery stalks, and rinse the lentils.
- Sauté the onions with a pinch of salt in a large pot or Dutch oven on medium heat, often stirring, until the onions are golden and a bit softer (1).
- Add ginger and garlic and stir until fragrant (2).
- Add carrots and celery and sauté them for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly softer.
- Stir in the spices. Add lentils and stock, and bring to a boil (3,4).
- Simmer, covered, on low heat for 30-35 minutes until the carrots and lentils are soft (5).
- Blend the soup with an immersion blender (hand blender) to your desired consistency; you can leave it slightly chunky or make it smooth and creamy (6).
- Adjust the taste with salt and pepper, and serve the creamy soup with carrots and lentils immediately (or reheated) with a dollop of yogurt (if desired).
Expert Tips
Blending the soup
Immersion blender: Using an immersion blender is preferable over a regular blender when blending soup or other hot liquids; it is safer, less messy, and easier.
When using a blender, taking certain precautions to ensure safety and prevent accidents is essential.
- Blend the soup in batches, and don’t overfill the blender to avoid spills or splatters.
- Start at a low speed, gradually increasing the speed to prevent sudden splashes or motor overload.
- Hold the lid firmly: Place a folded towel on top of it and hold it firmly with one hand to prevent it from popping off due to pressure.
Consistency: For a thicker carrot and lentil soup, use less stock, and for a lighter consistency, add more until you achieve your desired texture.
Batch cooking: Prepare a larger batch of the soup and freeze it in individual portions.
Recipe FAQ
If preferred, you could also opt for another kind of lentil (green, brown, black), though keep in mind that the cooking time and consistency of the soup might change. Check the lentils’ package instructions regarding cooking time.
Yes, but remember that the cooking time will be shorter since canned lentils are already cooked. Add them when the carrots are semi-cooked.
Sure, feel free to customize the flavors of the lentil carrot soup according to your taste. Some popular alternatives include garam masala, cumin, or paprika.
Yes. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave when ready to serve.
How to store and reheat?
- Refrigerate leftover soup in the pot or an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze the carrot and lentil soup in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat on the stovetop or microwave. Add a splash of water or vegetable stock if the soup seems to have thickened too much.
What to serve with it?
- Topping ideas:
- Fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, chives, oregano, or thyme.
- Greek yogurt or sour cream: Offer a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream as a garnish. It adds a creamy element to the soup and balances the spiciness.
- Toasted nuts or seeds, such as almonds, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds, for a bit of crunch and extra flavor.
- Croutons: Try the potato croutons we made to top our Pumpkin and Potato Soup. Or top the carrot lentil soup with bread croutons.
- Bread: Crusty bread, dinner rolls, savory scones, or muffins.
- Sandwiches: A classic grilled cheese sandwich or any other sandwich you like. Try our Danish Open Sandwiches, Polish Zapiekanka with Mushrooms or Ham, or Baked Croque Monsieur.
- Vegetables: Prepare a side of roasted vegetables, such as broccoli or cauliflower. Or make our caramelized Brussels sprouts or sweet potato slices.
- Side salad: Make a full meal by serving this tasty soup with a simple side salad made with fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette.
- Grains: Serve the soup over cooked rice or quinoa to make it a more substantial meal.
More easy recipes for soups with carrots
Spicy Carrot and Lentil Soup
Equipment
- Large soup pot
- Immersion blender Note 1
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger grated
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb carrots 450 g
- 2 celery sticks
- 1 ½ curry powder Note 2
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¾ cup red lentils 150 g
- 5 cups vegetable stock or broth, 1.2 liter
- more salt and pepper to taste
- chopped parsley chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Finely chop the onion and set it aside. Grate the ginger and garlic and keep them separated from the onions. Chop the carrots and celery stalks and set them aside. Rinse the lentils and let them drain in the sieve. 1 onion; 1 piece of ginger + 2 garlic cloves; 1 lb/ 450 g carrots + 2 celery stalks; ¾/ 150 g red lentils
- Sauté: Heat the oil. Sauté the onions with a pinch of salt, often stirring, until golden and slightly softer, about 4-5 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Add carrots and celery and sauté them for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly softer.
- Simmer: Add curry powder, chili flakes, salt, and pepper, and stir for 30 seconds. Add the lentils, pour in the stock, and bring to a boil. Once the soup boils, lower the heat, cover, leaving a small crack open, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until the carrots and lentils are soft. 1 ½ teaspoon curry powder + ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes + ¼ teaspoon salt + ¼ teaspoon pepper + 5 cups/ 1.2 liter vegetable stock
- Blend the soup with an immersion blender.
- Adjust the taste with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve immediately (or reheated) with a dollop of yogurt (if desired).
Notes
- Blending: An immersion blender is recommended for blending soups or hot liquids. While a regular blender can also be used, extra safety precautions must be taken – Make sure you read Expert Tips.
- Curry powder: I used curry madras powder, but feel free to use your preferred curry blend. Remember to check the spice levels and adjust the quantity to your liking.
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