Red Lentil Soup | Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe (2024)

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This hearty vegan creamy Red Lentil Soup recipe is not just good, it's also good for you, and very easy to make in your pressure cooker or on the stovetop. This easy Red Lentil Soup will have you making it again and again.

Red Lentil Soup | Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe (1)

What Makes This Red Lentil Soup So Good?

  • Fast. Have the ultimate filling dinner in less than 30 minutes.
  • Easy. Made simple in your Instant Pot.
  • Vegetarian. The perfect solution for your next Meatless Monday.
  • Versatile. Add a variety of spices to change the flavor profile. I like to use anything from garam masla to Thai red curry.
  • Delicious. The perfect Indian comfort food.

What Are Red Split Lentils?

As you may or may not know, there are a lot of different kinds of lentils. They all taste and cook quite differently, so it's important to know the difference. I have a great printable you can get for free that talks about that HERE.

Red lentils are the lentils that cook the fastest. They don't need to be soaked before cooking, and so are the most popular for soups and recipes.

For more info on how to cook beans and lentils in your pressure cooker, check out my guide on How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot!

Is Red Lentil Soup Good For You?

Lentils are high in fiber and several other vitamins and minerals. This is a vegan soup recipe, and lentils provide an excellent protein replacement for meat. Not only is this Red Lentil Soup recipe good for you, but it's also delicious and so easy to make.

Do You Need To Soak Red Lentils?

No. Unlike other pulses, lentils do not require soaking. Simply rinse and cook.

Ingredients You'll Need

How To Make Red Lentil Soup In The Instant Pot

  1. Select Browning/Saute and add the olive oil to thepressure cooking pot. When the oil is hot, add the onion,carrots, and celery. Saute for about 5 minutes until tender.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in thetomatoes, vegetable broth, water, lentils, cumin, thyme,salt, and pepper. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressureand 10 minutes cook time.
  3. When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes andfinish with a quick pressure release.
  4. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Transfer 2 cupssoup to a large bowl. Use an immersion blender to pureethe soup in the pot until smooth. (You can also use astandard blender). Stir in the reserved soup, spinach, andred wine vinegar.
  5. Select Simmer/Saute and cook for just afew minutes until the spinach wilts. Season with salt andpepper, if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and servewith a swirl of heavy cream.

How To Make It On The Stovetop

  1. In a large pot, add in the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion,carrots, and celery. Saute for about 5 minutes until tender.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in thetomatoes, vegetable broth, water, lentils, cumin, thyme,salt, and pepper.
  3. Cook on simmer for 20-25 minutes.
  4. Transfer 2 cupssoup to a large bowl. Use an immersion blender to pureethe soup in the pot until smooth. (You can also use astandard blender). Stir in the reserved soup, spinach, andred wine vinegar.
  5. Heat the burner back to medium/high heat and cook for just afew minutes until the spinach wilts. Season with salt andpepper, if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and servewith a swirl of heavy cream.

How Long Does It Last?

This Instant Pot lentil soup will last 3-5 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator after it is made.

The longer it is stored, the softer the lentils and carrots become. Luckily, the intensity of the flavor of the broth is absorbed into the lentils the longer it sits. So while the texture may be slightly different after a few days, the depth of flavor only increases.

Want More Delicious Lentil Recipes?

  • Instant Pot Lentil Soup
  • Dal Makhani Creamy Lentils
  • Instant Pot Moong Dal Soup
  • Instant Pot Barley and Lentil Pilaf
  • Beet Salad with Lentils
Red Lentil Soup | Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe (2)

I can't wait for you to try this thick and hearty Red Lentil Soup recipe! It's such an easy lentil soup recipe, and will be a family favorite! If you love it as much as I do, please share this recipe with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can try it too.

Red Lentil Soup | Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe (3)

Red Lentil Soup

This Red Lentil Soup recipe is not just good, it's also good for you, and very easy to make in your pressure cooker or on the stove!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes minutes

Course: Main Courses, Soups

Cuisine: American

Keyword: red lentil soup, red lentil soup recipe

Servings: 8

Calories: 59kcal

Click on highlighted ingredients or Equipment to see exactly what I use to make this recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons (29.57 ml) olive oil
  • 1 cup (160 g) Onion, diced
  • 1 cup (128 g) Carrots, diced
  • .5 cup (50.5 g) Celery, diced
  • 5 cloves (5 cloves) Garlic, minced
  • 2 14.5 ounces cans (6080.97 g) Canned Fire Roasted Tomatoes
  • 1 quart (0.95 l) reduced-sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 cups (500 ml) Water, Plus 1 cup water for stove top
  • 1.5 cups (270 g) Split Red Lentils, rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Ground Cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 teaspoon) Dried Thyme
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 teaspoon) Ground Black Pepper
  • 2 cups (60 g) baby spinach, coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Red Wine Vinegar
  • Heavy Cream, (omit for vegan)

Instructions

FOR THE INSTANT POT

  • Select Browning/Saute and add the olive oil to thepressure cooking pot. When the oil is hot, add the onion,carrots, and celery. Saute for about 5 minutes until tender.

  • Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in thetomatoes, vegetable broth, water, lentils, cumin, thyme,salt, and pepper. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressureand 10 minutes cook time.

  • When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker.Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes andfinish with a quick pressure release.

  • When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Transfer 2 cupssoup to a large bowl. Use an immersion blender to pureethe soup in the pot until smooth. (You can also use astandard blender). Stir in the reserved soup, spinach, andred wine vinegar.

  • Select Simmer/Saute and cook for just afew minutes until the spinach wilts. Season with salt andpepper, if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and servewith a swirl of heavy cream.

FOR THE STOVE

  • In a large pot, add in the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion,carrots, and celery. Saute for about 5 minutes until tender.

  • Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in thetomatoes, vegetable broth, water, lentils, cumin, thyme,salt, and pepper.

  • Simmer for 20-25 minutes.

  • Transfer 2 cupssoup to a large bowl. Use an immersion blender to pureethe soup in the pot until smooth. (You can also use astandard blender). Stir in the reserved soup, spinach, andred wine vinegar.

  • Heat the burner back to medium/high heat and cook for just afew minutes until the spinach wilts. Season with salt andpepper, if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and servewith a swirl of heavy cream.

  • To make this recipe vegan, omit the cream.
  • For some fun variations to this soup, add in some Garam Masala for an Indian Twist!

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Nutrition

Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

Tried this recipe?Follow @twosleevers and Pin it!

Originally Published November 15, 2017

Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!

Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.

Red Lentil Soup | Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe (4)

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  1. Lauren

    Could I use frozen spinach?

    • URVASHI PITRE

      Yes you could

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Red Lentil Soup | Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe (2024)

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