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§03 · Dinner · lentil-soup

Revised Jul 2026 · 1 revision

Lentil Soup

Brothy and herby, with the lemon going in off the heat so it stays sharp. Thyme keeps it on the Mediterranean side.

Illustration of Lentil Soup
Hands-on 12 min Total 40 min Serves4 Ingredients14 Cost / Serv.$1.20 Calories387
Servings
4 servings
×1

Ingredients

Everything here is already in your pantry.

Ran low on something?

What swaps in

Green Lentils
Brown lentils same cook time, same behaviourFrench green lentils hold their shape more; add about 5 minutes
Red Onion
Yellow onion milder cooked, none of the anthocyaninsWhite onion sharper raw, none of the anthocyaninsShallots sweeter and finer; about 3 small per onion
Carrots
Baby carrots no peeling, more per poundFrozen sliced carrots softer; won't roast
Garlic
Fresh cloves 1 tsp jarred = 1 clove
Diced Tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes smoother, no crushing neededWhole peeled tomatoes crush by hand going inFire-roasted diced tomatoes smokier, 1:1
Smoked Paprika
Sweet paprika same color and body, none of the smoke
Dried Thyme
Fresh thyme 3× the amount; strip the stems
Better Than Bouillon
Any vegetable bouillon paste match to 1 tsp per cup of waterVegetable bouillon cubes usually 1 cube per 2 cupsVegetable bouillon powder check the jar; concentrations varyBoxed vegetable broth use in place of the water
Frozen Spinach
Fresh spinach roughly 4:1 by volume; a 1 lb bag wilts down to a 10 oz blockFrozen kale chewier, needs longer
Bottled Lemon Juice
Fresh lemons 1 lemon ≈ 3 tbsp; brighter, but keeps days rather than months
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Butter 1:1 for cooking; browns at a lower temperature, and it sets solid once coldRefined olive oil higher smoke point, less flavorAvocado oil neutral, very high smoke point
Sea Salt
Kosher salt coarser, so more by volume; the ratio depends on the brandTable salt finer and denser; use about ¾ by volume

No close substitute for Cumin and Black Pepper.

What you'll need

Method

  1. Heat the 2 tbsp27 g olive oil in a pot over medium. Add the 1110 g diced onion and 2122 g diced carrots and cook until soft, about 7 minutes. Stir in the 4 tsp20 g garlic, 2 tsp4.2 g cumin, 1 tsp2.2 g smoked paprika, and ½ tsp0.5 g thyme for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Stir in the 1 can (14.5 oz)411 g diced tomatoes and cook, crushing them against the pot, until they darken and thicken slightly, about 3 minutes — concentrating them here builds deeper flavor before the liquid goes in.
  3. Add the 1½ cups288 g green lentils, rinsed, and the 1 tbsp17 g bouillon dissolved in 6 cups water. Simmer, partly covered, 25–30 minutes until the lentils are tender.
  4. Blend about 2 cups of the soup and stir it back in — that’s what gives it body without cream. Stir in the 2 cups170 g frozen spinach and simmer 3 minutes.
  5. Finish off the heat with the 2 tbsp30 g lemon juice. Season with salt, to taste, and pepper, to taste.

Kids: blend more of the pot smooth and go light on the lemon — it turns mild and stew-like.

Dietary

  • Gluten free
  • Tree nut free
  • Peanut free
  • Soy free
  • Sesame free

Nutrition

Per serving · makes 4
Calories387Protein22gCarbs61gFiber13gSugars7.6gFat8.5gSaturated Fat1.1gSodium535mg
Vitamins & minerals
Iron7.3mgCalcium154mgPotassium1062mgMagnesium89mgZinc3.0mgFolate427µgVitamin C25mgVitamin B120.0µgOmega-3 (ALA)0.04g
Estimated from pantry data, excluding Sea Salt (to taste), Black Pepper (to taste).
Change log · 1 revision
  1. 14 Jul 2026

    FoundThe top Mediterranean lentil soups concentrate the tomato with the bloomed spices before the liquid goes in and carry dried thyme; ours added the tomatoes cold with the broth and had no herb.

    ChangedCooked the crushed tomatoes down with the spices for a few minutes first and added a little dried thyme, sharpening the lemon-and-herb identity that keeps it distinct from the dal.

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