When it’s cold outside few things are as comforting as a big bowl of warm soup and if you ask me lentil soup has a lot going for it. Healthy, hearty, filling, easy to make and easy on the wallet there are a lot of reasons to make lentil soup from scratch. Add fragrantly warm curry spices and a creamy texture from a surprise ingredient that’s vegan (and probably hiding in your fridge right now) and you’ve got a soup that will warm you up without weighing you down. Let’s take a look at just how easy making my Vegan Creamy Curried Lentil Soup can be.
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If you’re like me after the indulgences of the holidays you want food that’s a little lighter and fresher but you still want it to be filling and cozy. Enter lentil soup. Lentils are a nutrition powerhouse packing a good dose of fiber, protein, B vitamins, magnesium and zinc in their tiny packages. Add in the facts that lentils are widely available, insanely affordable and can be flavored countless ways and it’s not surprising that I’ve got a stash of dried lentils in my pantry at all times.
How to make lentil soup creamy
Still wondering what I use to make lentil soup creamy? The answer is probably hiding in your fridge right now.
Hummus!
Aside from being one of my favorite healthy snacks hummus is perfect for giving lentil soup a smooth velvety texture without using flour or milk. A large dollop of hummus stirred into this lentil soup at the end of cooking makes for a rich creamy texture while still being healthy. Who says you can’t have it all? This mushroom lentil stew is another great vegan lentil meal.
How to Make Lentil Soup from Scratch
Lentil soup is probably one of the easiest soups to make from scratch and you probably have most of the ingredients already (this cream of jalapeno soup is another cozy and delicious soup). Aside from the lentils the only thing you made need to go out and buy is garam masala (this garam masala is widely available in most grocery stores). Garam masala is a spice blend typically used in Indian cuisine and can include cinnamon, peppercorns, coriander, cumin, and cardamom though this can vary between brands.
This soup starts with sautéing onions, carrots and garlic with olive oil in a large pot ( I adore this cast iron Dutch oven )until soft and then adding in the garam masala and cook until fragrant (about a minute ). Add in the dried green lentils and water and bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until most of the water has been absorbed (about 20-25 minutes). Stir in the hummus until it has melted into the lentils and the soup is creamy. Divide into bowls and enjoy!
If you like this Vegan Creamy Curried Lentil Soup be sure to take a look at some of my other recipes!
Butternut Squash and Mushroom Risotto
Roasted Tomato and Green Onion Salsa
Tabbouleh with Preserved Lemon
Easy Homemade Granola with Cranberries and Pecans
If you make this Homemade Hot Honey Recipe please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe please tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see what you guys are making!
Vegan Creamy Curried Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 large carrots peeled and chopped
- 2 tbsp garam masala
- 1 cup green lentils
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup hummus
Instructions
- In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute onions, garlic and carrots until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garam masala and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add green lentils and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 25 minutes or until most of the water has been absorbed. Stir in hummus until its thoroughly been combined and texture of the soup is creamy.
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