Indian Red Lentil Soup

Lentil soup is usually eaten when one is in need or want of something comforting and inexpensive. This variation is much the same, except with the added bonus of being quite exotic in flavor, too. The fragrant Indian spices lighten and brighten the soup’s homey flavor. Red lentils tend to easily break down into a coarse puree during the cooking process so you should expect a creamier texture than typical lentil soups.

5 cups water

1 cup red lentils, uncooked

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil(for diabetics, use ¼ cup vegetable broth or water)

1 cup onions, chopped

½ cup celery, thinly sliced

1 cup carrots, finely diced

1 ½ tbsp tomato paste

1 bay leaf

⅛ tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

¾ (15 oz) can tomatoes, chunky, whole-crushed

1 tbsp curry powder

½ cup parsley or cilantro (optional)

In a large pot, combine the first 7 ingredients (water, red lentils, garlic, olive oil, onions, celery, and carrots) together, and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 2 hours, making sure to keep the pot covered so the liquid doesn’t evaporate.

Except for the parsley, add the rest of the ingredients (tomato paste, bay leaf, chili powder, salt, tomatoes, curry powder) and let simmer for a few minutes longer.

Just before serving, stir in the ½ cup of freshly chopped parsley.

Nutrition Facts

6 servings

Serving size

1 cup

Amount per serving
Calories109

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 0.3g2%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 406mg18%
Total Carbohydrate 18g7%
Dietary Fiber 6g22%
Total Sugars 1.4g
Protein 6g

Potassium 0mg0%

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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Indian Red Lentil Soup