Instant Pot Lentil Soup

This Instant Pot Lentil Soup is cozy and comforting! Infused with fragrant Middle Eastern spices, it can be made in your Instant Pot or on your stovetop. Vegan, fast & easy. Includes a Video. 

True abundance is the freedom that comes from wanting less.

Yung Pueblo Inward

This Instant Pot Lentil Soup is packed full of healthy, nourishing veggies.  A delicious, vegan soup seasoned with fragrant Middle Eastern spices that is both satisfying and filling, yet low in calories. This is my Egyptian father’s recipe, one that we ate on repeat growing up, not only for its nutrient density but for its affordability. Humble yet abundant! Make a big batch and have it on hand for lunches or dinners during the busy work week.

Love lentils as much as we do? Check out 30 Amazing Lentil Recipes! For more popular instant pot soup recipes, try: Instant Pot Mulligatawny (Curried Indian Soup) and Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup w/ Spinach & Mushrooms.

Why you’ll love this!

1. Healthy and Nutritious: Lentil soup is packed with fiber, protein, and essential nutrients, making it a healthy choice. It is plant-based and low in calories, yet it keeps you feeling full and satisfied.
2. Affordable: Made with simple and humble ingredients, lentil soup is an affordable option, utilizing pantry staples that you may already have on hand. It provides a budget-friendly way to enjoy a delicious and nourishing meal.
3. Fast and Easy: Lentil soup is quick and easy to prepare, requiring minimal effort and time. With just a few basic cooking steps, you can have a flavorful and comforting bowl of soup ready in no time.
4. Versatile: Lentil soup offers versatility in terms of ingredients and customization. You can add various vegetables and spices to suit your taste preferences. Whether you prefer a classic lentil soup or want to experiment with different flavors, the possibilities are endless.
5. Great for Meal Prep: Lentil soup is perfect for meal prepping. You can make a large batch and store it in the fridge for several days. The flavors actually enhance over time, making it even more delicious as the soup sits.
6. Comforting and Satisfying: There’s something inherently comforting about a warm bowl of lentil soup. It’s a soul-soothing dish that can provide a sense of comfort and nourishment, especially on chilly days or when you’re in need of a wholesome meal.

 Lentil Soup Ingredients

1. Lentils: There are various types of lentils that can be used in lentil soup, such as black caviar lentils, brown lentils, French green lentils, or red lentils. The cooking time may vary depending on the type of lentils you choose, with smaller lentils cooking faster.
2. Vegetables: While the recipe recommends using carrots and celery, you can also get creative and add other veggies such as bell peppers, parsnips, fennel, or sweet potatoes, add a handful of spinach just before serving. You can customize the soup based on your taste preferences or what you have on hand.
3. Tomatoes: You can use fresh tomatoes in your lentil soup recipe for vibrant flavor if they are in season otherwise canned diced tomatoes are a convenient option.
4. Broth: The recipe suggests using vegetable broth or chicken broth for added flavor. You can choose the type of broth based on your dietary preferences.
5. Spices: The lentil soup is seasoned with Middle Eastern spices like ground cumin, turmeric, and coriander. Feel free to adjust the spices based on your personal taste.
6. Garnishes: To elevate the flavors of the lentil soup, you can garnish it with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, diced tomatoes, chili flakes for some heat, or grated parmesan if you prefer (not vegan).

See the recipe card below for detailed ingredients and instructions.

How to Cook Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Set Instant Pot to the saute function. (See recipe card for stovetop)Add the olive oil, onion and garlic, and stir until fragrant, about 4 minutes.

Add four cups of chopped vegetables to the Instant Pot.

Any combination of carrots, celery, parsnips, bell pepper, potato, or even sweet potato will work here. Add the vegetable broth, water, lentils, tomatoes, tomato paste, spices, and salt and black pepper.

NOTE: Here, I’ve used tiny Black Caviar Lentils for the FASTEST COOKING TIME.  If going with conventional large brown lentils, increase the time to 20 minutes- they should hold their shape.

Close the lid, seal and pressure cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Manual release, releasing the remaining pressure valve.

Garnish the lentil soup -it TRULY elevates the soup! Add a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, fresh tomatoes and herbs, and dunk some warm pita bread in it.

What to serve with Lentil Soup

Simple Homemade Pita Bread!

Beginner’s Guide to Sourdough Bread

Soft Sourdough Rolls

Kale Salad

More lentil recipes you may enjoy

Lentil Chili

Harira: Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup

Lentil Soup

Moroccan Lentil Quinoa Soup

• Our 25 BEST Lentil Recipes! (Plus how to cook Lentils)
• Lentil Curry
• Mushroom Lentil Stew with Fennel and Sage
• Lentil Bolognese
• Moroccan Chicken Lentil Soup with Saffron and Preserved Lemon

I hope you find as much comfort and nourishment from this lentil soup as I have through the years. Food does that… ✨

And before I close, I have to say, there was a time in when I was young,  I swore I’d never eat lentil soup again because we had it so often! But 40 years later, it’s strange how much I crave it! It has become my favorite soup recipe, my comfort food, reminding me of home, and a way of bringing my father back to me when I miss him.

Love and Hugs,

Sylvia

Love this recipe? Please let us know in the comments and leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below the recipe card.

Instant Pot Lentil Soup | 60-sec Video

Print