Moroccan Red Lentil Soup is a comforting soup recipe that is easy to make and perfect for the freezer. The warm, rich spices of cinnamon, coriander, cumin, paprika and turmeric mix together perfectly to create a flavorful soup. You will love this healthy, hearty soup!

MOROCCAN RED LENTIL SOUP

Today I write this post with a heavy heart because of what happened in Boston on Monday.

Tragedies like this remind us what is important in life. 

There have been days where I wake up feeling stressed about a deadline at work, or a messy house or the million things on my to-do list– but these things seem unimportant when innocent lives are lost.

I have watched marathons and ran in one myself- if you want to see strength, commitment, dedication and true inspiration, go to a marathon.  You see people from all walks of life running 26.2 miles, cheering each other on–bringing out the best in people.

The events on Monday show that there is evil among.

However, I believe that the kind, good-hearted people in this world shine brighter than the evil. 

For example, those first responders who put themselves in harms way.

They helped the victims, of course. Also, there were the marathon runners who ran 26.2 miles and then continued to run to the hospital to give blood. We remember that instead of running away from the scene, they ran to it.

As I post today’s Morrocan red lentil soup recipe, I hope that in some way, food can offer you comfort, or bring you together around the table with the ones you love.

Food has a way of doing this for me…

Today’s recipe, Moroccan Red Lentil Soup, is comforting.  

The warm, rich spices of cinnamon, coriander, cumin, paprika and tumeric mix together perfectly to create a flavorful soup.

The wonderful smell of spices simmering in this soup remind me of my Grandma’s kitchen growing up. 

There is something about soup that can really warm the soul.

I spent most of last week eating this soup for lunch and even had some leftover to freeze.

This Moroccan Red Lentil Soup is easy to make and simmers on the stove while you go about your day. 

If you are a fan of lentil soup, I suggest you give this one a try… make a big batch, invite your loved ones over and enjoy!

If you love lentil soups you also need to try this Moroccan Carrot Red Lentil Soup, Moroccan Red Lentil Soup and this Red Lentil Coconut Soup but nothing like theirs. All of these are variations of a vegan lentil soup.

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.

Why Should I Make This Red Lentil Soup?

1. This soup is vegan, gluten-free and protein packed. It offers you a good dose of vitamins from the carrots, spinach, spices and the lentils. 
2. I love that this soup freezes so well. Make a big batch of it and save half for later. Portion it out so you can pull it out when you need a healthy lunch option. A tip before freezing: allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then put it in an airtight container, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat it let the soup thaw in the fridge overnight. Then when you are ready to eat it, warm it up on the stove over low heat until it is warmed through. 

Cooking Tips and Variations:

1. Beans: Add additional protein to the soup by adding chickpeas or white beans. 
2. Vegetables: I enjoy extra vegetables in this soup. Try cauliflower, jalapeños for spice, potatoes or sweet potatoes.
3. 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.
4. Protein: For those that want to add meat to the soup try adding sausage, diced chicken, ground pork or even some crispy bacon. 
5. 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! 

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.

Other Soups to Try:

WHITE BEAN SOUP

INSTANT POT BEEF STEW RECIPE

INSTANT POT BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

TORTELLINI SAUSAGE SOUP

ZESTY BEAN POSOLE SOUP

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER SOUP