Even when your pantry is bare, you probably have all the ingredients you need for this flavorful curry red lentil soup. It uses just 10 ingredients!
It’s a vegan, gluten-free, 1-pot meal that is easy to make. Ready in 25 to 30 minutes!
Curry red lentil soup is one of my favorite inexpensive, pantry-friendly meals.
This 10 ingredient soup is made with simple ingredients like:
- Red lentils
- Garlic
- Onions
- Spices
- Cilantro for garnish
From start to finish, it’s ready in about 25 minutes, thanks to red lentils’ quick cooking time.
The red lentils add protein & staying power. Plus, they feel so satisfyingly creamy in the mouth.
Red lentils have a wonderful, filling texture. As they break down, they give the soup a hearty, full body.
This easy soup is great for meal planning. It just gets better with time as the flavors develop and meld.
In this post:
Why readers love this recipe
“We’re trying to get back on track with meal planning again and when I looked in our pantry, I said, ‘I remember seeing a curry lentil soup on Cadry’s site!’
Love when we literally have all of the ingredients on hand…so we made this last night!! Such a hearty, comforting, protein-packed soup that came together so fast.” – Mandy
Step by step instructions
This section shows how to make this recipe at a glance with process photos of the steps. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.
Sauté onions and garlic in a soup pot with oil.
Once they are softened and fragrant, add the following:
- Water
- Red lentils
- Curry powder
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Salt
Bring the water to a simmer. Then lower the heat, and cover the pot with a lid.
Let the soup cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the lentils are soft and starting to lose their form.
Serve in bowls.
Garnish with chopped cilantro, if you like.
Make it your own
You can easily make this soup your own by varying the ingredients or amounts.
- For a spicier soup, add chopped chilies at the same time as the garlic and onions. Or add a pinch of cayenne with the other spices.
- If you’re a ginger fan, add grated ginger with the garlic and onions
- Add more vegetables like chopped carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, potatoes
- Vary the type & amount of curry powder for more or less intensity
- Replace the water with vegetable broth
- Replace some of the water with coconut milk for fat, body, and flavor
Serving ideas
Serve red lentil soup with any of the following:
- Crackers
- Bread
- Brown rice
- Vegan roti
- Croutons or air fryer gnocchi
- Mixed vegetable ginger & turmeric rice
Storage & reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for about 4 days.
Reheat in a pot on the stove or in the microwave.
FAQ
You can find red lentils in Indian grocery stores, the bulk bins of natural grocery stores, or at Trader Joe’s sold in small resealable bags.
Split red lentils (as opposed to whole) are most commonly sold, and that’s what you want to use here.
You want dried lentils, not canned.
Look for small, reddish orange discs that aren’t broken or damaged.
When you get home, you’ll want to sort through the lentils to remove any wayward pebbles or debris inside. Then give them a rinse. And you’re good to go.
I have several favorites that work well in this soup.
* Penzey’s hot curry powder
* Sweet curry powder (Pick the one that fits the best for your preferred heat level.)
* S&B
Keep in mind that curry powders are spice blends. So they vary in terms of heat & intensity. Start with a smaller amount. You can always add more if you’d like a stronger curry flavor.
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Easy curry red lentil soup
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil or any neutral flavored oil
- ½ onion chopped small
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup dried red lentils rinsed
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 teaspoons curry powder + more if desired
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- Generous pinch of salt
- Chopped cilantro optional garnish
Instructions
- Bring a soup pot to a medium heat with extra virgin olive oil. Add onion and garlic to the pot and sauté for a few minutes, until they are softened and fragrant. Then add the remaining ingredients to the pot.
- Bring the soup to a simmer. Then turn the heat to low and cover for 15 to 20 minutes, stopping occasionally to stir.
- Once the lentils have softened and are starting to break down while still maintaining some of their shape, the soup is ready. Taste for curry and salt flavor. Add more, if necessary.*
- Ladle the soup into bowls. And top with cilantro garnish (optional).
Notes
Nutrition
Content updated October 28, 2022. Originally posted April 14, 2015.
Robin
Went over well with a picky eater! I’m stuck on a shelter-in-place mandate, so instead of garlic I used garlic powder and instead of curry powder I threw in a bunch of spices from my cupboard, leftover pizza packets of red pepper, bay leaves and a spoonful of better-than-boullion. Quarantine creativity 🤦🏼♀️
Cadry
I love your ingenuity, Robin! This recipe is definitely open to tweaking with whatever is in your cupboard. We’re staying home too and trying to make the most of whatever we have. Thinking of you!
Barbara
Wonderful!!
I did have to adapt it for my pantry,
green lentils, & red curry paste. I added kale for the last few minutes.
Cadry
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Barbara! Kale sounds like a tasty addition. Thank you for the feedback!
Mandy
We’re trying to get back on track with meal planning again and when I looked in our pantry, I said, “I remember seeing a curry lentil soup on Cadry’s site!” Love when we literally have all of the ingredients on hand…so we made this last night!! Such a hearty, comforting, protein-packed soup that came together so fast. We added some extra curry powder to ours and served it with roasted potato wedges on the side – such a cozy meal that will definitely be made again…and again! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
Cadry
Ooh, I love the idea of serving this lentil soup with roasted potato wedges. That sounds so warming & satiating. Plus, potatoes make everything better. I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup, and good job getting back on track with meal planning. I would like to do more of that too.
Sina
I love lentils! This soup looks so comforting and hearty! Looks like my kind of soup! 🙂
Cadry
I’m a big fan of lentils too. They are so convenient to have in the pantry when you need something filling, fast, and delicious.
Jenn
Oh, this looks so cozy and comforting! I could go for a big bowl right now – it’s been sleeting ALL day here!
Cadry
Ugh! Fall lasted as long as it could this year, but it seems like winter has finally arrived. David and I spent the last two days chiseling ice off of our driveway. Soup weather is here! 🙂
The Vegan 8
Wow, you weren’t kidding, I DO have everything in my pantry right now! You know what is so funny…my Mom just gave me some Penzey’s curry powder for Christmas!! She gave me a whole giftbox of Penzey’s spices and I’m in love. I definitely need to try this out!
Cadry
Oh, that’s great! What perfect timing. I have two curry powders from Penzey’s – hot and sweet – and they are both terrific. Let me know if you try the soup, Brandi!
Becky
Ooh this looks like my kind of soup!
Cadry
Thanks, Becky!
Haley
I made this for dinner tonight with one small change – increased the curry by about one million 🙂 I used curry paste instead of powder. Super yummy!!
Cadry
That’s great, Haley! I’m glad to hear it!
River
We do that too whenever we’re going out of town. Although I must admit that my pre-trip dinners are far less glamorous than your soup. 🙂
Penzeys Spices recently opened a location about 20 minutes from here and I am excited to go check it out! It looks so awesome!
Cadry
Oh, that’s great! I don’t get to go to Penzeys very often, because the closest location is a couple hours away. However, I make sure to never run out of both their hot & sweet curry powders. I love them both. The place itself is really fun too. You’ll enjoy smelling all of the spices. 🙂
Valerie
So making this next week, sounds great!
Cadry
Awesome! Thanks, Valerie! I hope you enjoy it.