Sharing is caring!

This Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe is a zesty, flavorful lentil soup that is filled with protein. If you are looking for more vegan recipes this one is for you. I like to make a big batch of this soup and freeze half for later. Pair it with crusty bread and a light side salad for a full meal. 

LEMON LENTIL SOUP RECIPE 

I know many of you love lentil soups as much as I do. 

Some of my most popular recipes are lentil soups like this Moroccan Carrot Red Lentil Soup, Lebanese Lentil Soup and this Moroccan Red Lentil Soup.

Lentils are a great meatless protein that offers many healthy benefits and help you feel full. 

I personally am a big fan of red lentils which you will find in today’s Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe. 

This soup is bursting with zesty, lemon flavor which is a personal favorite of mine. You can add more or less depending on your love of lemons.

Lentils and pulses are a large part of the Mediterranean diet and something I encourage everyone to incorporate into their diets. 

Some other lentil recipes that you might like are this Red Lentil Curry, Mediterranean Lentil Salad, Lentil Mushroom Stew, Lentil Sweet Potato Stew or this Slow Cooker Lentil Soup.

You can also check out this post on 20 Recipes to Make With a Bag of Lentils for Other Ideas. 

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN THIS LEMON LENTIL SOUP?

• RED LENTILS

• VEGETABLES: ONION, CARROTS, CELERY

• GARLIC

• SPICES: CUMIN, TURMERIC, CORIANDER, GINGER, CURRY POWDER AND CAYENNE RED PEPPER

• VEGETABLE BROTH

• LEMON JUICE AND ZEST

• FRESH DILL AND CILANTRO 

HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS LEMON LENTIL SOUP RECIPE?

Lentil soup is easy to make and is perfect for meal-prep. 

SAUTE: Sauté the onion and garlic until soft, about 2 minutes then add the spices and continue to sauté about 4 minutes. Add the carrots and celery and sauté until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.

SIMMER: Add the vegetable broth and lentils and stir to combine. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, or until lentils are tender. Stir in the lemon juice.

PUREE: You can eat the soup as is with the chunks of carrots, celery and lentils or you can use a handheld immersion blender or regular blender to create a creamy soup. Sometimes I blend half and keep half chunky.

HOW CAN I MODIFY THIS LENTIL SOUP?

BEANBS: You can add additional protein to the soup by adding chickpeas or white beans. 

VEGETABLES: I enjoy extra vegetables in this soup like cauliflower, jalapeños for spice, potatoes, bell peppers or sweet potatoes.

GARNISHES: Garnishes are always a great way to take a soup to the next level. Some garnishes I love in this lentil soup is feta cheese {of course the soup won’t be vegan if you use feta}, fresh cilantro and parsley, Greek or plain yogurt swirled in to create a thicker, creamier soup {once again not vegan}.

MEAT: For those that want to add meat to the soup try adding sausage, shredded chicken, ground pork or even some crispy bacon. 

LENTILS: I like red lentils because they break down and become soft. With this soup I blend it, or at least half of it, but you can easily eat this soup as is. If you have brown or green lentils on hand you can swap those in or use half red and half brown or green.

Some people prefer the texture of the green or brown-so that is totally up to you! 

Garnish your lentil soup with fresh dill and cilantro and serve with lemon wedges. 

WHAT SHOULD I SERVE WITH THIS SOUP?

A lot of times when I eat this soup it stands great on its own.

I will often warm up a piece of pita or naan to go with it and make a simple salad. Here are some other ideas:

VEGETABLES: I like to add vegetables on the side to this soup. Some sides that would be nice are these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Mediterranean Bean Salad, Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts and this Summer Orzo Pasta Salad. 

POTATOES: Another thing I like to pair with lentil soup is potatoes. Try these Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes, Paprika Roasted Potatoes, Lemon Cilantro Roasted Potatoes and these Gouda Smashed Potatoes. 

DIPS: I am big fan of dips on the side of soups. I especially like this Baba Ghanoush, Lebanese Hummus or this Lemon Whipped Feta Dip.