This vegan Tomato Lentil Soup is the ultimate soup for the soul. Easy to make with a surprisingly irresistible flavor!
Those of you that have been with me for a while know that I love vegan soups.
LOVE.
For a few reasons…
(1) They are usually easy and quick to make.
(2) Typically the batches are large so you can refrigerate or freeze some for another lunch or dinner.
(3) They are the perfect vehicle for getting in the most nutrient-dense ingredients, like legumes, vegetables, and grains.
Not only do soups make it easy to get a healthy and delicious meal on the table, they are deeply comforting and pleasing to the senses.
There is something very soul-enriching in making and eating soups. The chopping and prep calms my mind, the simmering of the stew fills the house with aromatics, and there is a feeling of ‘plenty’ to see a large pot of soup waiting to be eaten on the stove. Indeed, soups are soul-satisfying.
So much for me that I my soups chapter in LTEV is called Vegan Soup for the Soul.
I made this Tomato Lentil Soup with Cumin and Fresh Dill from LTEV recently, and was SO surprised by our daughter’s reaction when I served it. Went something like this:
Daughter: What soup are we having tonight?
Me: I’m not sure if you remember this one, I haven’t made it for a while – have a taste.
Daughter: Yum, I LOVE this soup, this is the soup you made on New Year’s Eve!
That would be New Year’s Eve TWO years ago! I was shocked she remembered it, particularly because I hadn’t given it a quirky name like “Sniffle Soup” – which they know very well. But, their friends joined us that year on New Year’s and when I asked her how she remembered, she said “oh, I remember this soup because we all brought it downstairs and had it with that yummy bread and everyone loved it“. We remember the food we love and memories are created, apparently even as wee ones.
Another food we love is cashew cheese. For this version, I added fresh herbs and a just a couple of sun-dried tomatoes (one of the suggestions in the Truffled Cashew Cheese – recipe is in Let Them Eat Vegan). It pairs fabulously with this Tomato Lentil Soup.
I share this soup with you today, because maybe it’s a little chilly where you are too… or maybe because you’d like to create a few new soup memories.
Tomato Lentil Soup with Cumin and Dill
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 1/2 cups onion chopped
- 3/4 cup celery chopped
- ½ cup carrots chopped
- 4 large cloves garlic
- 2 ½ cups white potato peeled and chopped (OR 1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice, added later, see note)
- 1 – 1 1/2 cups cauliflower chopped
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dill seeds
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups red lentils rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 3 ½ – 4 cups water more if using cooked rice, see note
- 1 bay leaf optional
- 1 can 28 oz crushed or diced tomatoes
- 2-3 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat the water in a large pot over medium or medium- high heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, potato (if using), cauliflower, cumin seeds, ground cumin, dill seeds, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir, cover, and cook for 8 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lentils, stock, 3 1⁄2 cups of the water, and the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the lentils have cooked through and are softened. Then, add the tomatoes (and brown rice, if using instead of potato), and turn off the heat. Remove the bay leaf, and using an immersion blender, puree the soup until completely smooth. Turn on the heat again to medium-high, and cook the soup for another 5 or more minutes to heat through (you can return the bay leaf to the soup or not). Once reheated, stir in the fresh dill, remove the bay leaf, and serve, sprinkling with extra fresh dill, if desired (chives or green onions are also nice addition, as pictured). Serves 6 or more.
Notes
Recipe from Let Them Eat Vegan.
Have you tried this recipe? What are your favorite soups and go-to vegan stews?
Nancy Nurse says
Dreena, could you throw everything in the Instant Pot (using potatoes instead of rice)? If so, any suggestions as to time etc?
Devin says
Making this right now! Just curious as to why we add the tomatoes later?
NJ says
Hello Dreena
I stumbled upon your website through facebook and thought to make this soup. Although I did not have dill or dill seed, decided to give it a try. Oh my, it turned out soooooooooo delicious. I make many different kind of soups (I am a vegetarian), but this is one of the best tasting soups. Thank you so much!! The only thing extra I added was couple spoons of sugar to bring the sourness of tomatoes down. Just loved the taste and texture.
Dreena says
Thanks so much, I appreciate the feedback NJ. 🙂
Heather says
I cannot say enough about this soup. There is so much flavor in it and it is by far the best soup I have ever tried!! I can’t wait to make it again, I was going to make more the very day I ran out but was out of veggie broth.
Dreena says
That is just wonderful to read, thanks Heather!
Julie says
Great soup! We just made this for lunch today. Love the addition of dill!
Julie says
This is the soup I have been waiting for my whole life. I will be home in 1 week, and I am making it THEN! Thank you Dreena!!! It looks AMAZING and I love the ingredients. 🙂
janet @ the taste space says
Hi Dreena, Thank you for sharing this lovely soup online. I shared my version of it today: http://tastespace.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/tomato-red-lentil-soup-with-dill/
Lorna says
Oh boy was this good! I followed this link from the McDougall boards and this was a huge hit with my family! I used the rice and no oil and it was fabulous! Thanks for posting this and I am going to subscribe so I can get more recipes!
Dreena says
Delighted to hear it, thanks Lorna! 😀
ally says
i am always looking for a new soup recipe & yours here has just topped my to do list!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.ca/
myfudo says
LOve that this is soy free…My daughter cannot have anything with soy in it. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Dreena says
Glad to help – most of my recipes are bean, grain, or nut/seed based rather than soy. I try to give alternatives for folks even when I do use soy. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Eva says
Dreena:
You are our favorite chef! We have cooked from many vegan/vegetarian cookbooks, and your recipes are the very best! We have made recipes from Eat Drink and Be Vegan and just got your new book as well. I recommend you to everyone.
I made this soup recipe on Sunday – oh, I LOVE this soup! I froze several portions so that we can have easy week-night dinners.
I hope you have a book signing in the San Francisco area – I want to meet you.
Dreena says
Oh Eva, thank you! That is quite a compliment for me, as there are so many talented vegan chefs and cooks with exceptional cookbooks. And, really delighted that you love this particular soup as well. What fun it would be to meet you too!! My publisher doesn’t have the budget for a book tour for me, so not sure when/if I will get to San Fran… but, I sure appreciate the welcoming vibes. I hope to keep bringing you much food love!! <3
jennP says
I just made this soup tonight and oh my goodness it is delicious!! (as all your recipes seem to be). It is very rich and creamy. My husband is not really fond of soups, so i used a portion of it as sauce for his pasta dish!
I have your 4 books and have been making recipes from them at least 4 days a week!! 🙂 I take one book with me to work daily and decide what to make that week. Keep up the culinary awesomeness!!
Lorii Abela says
This looks really great. Thanks for the recipe!..
Katie O says
This soup is awesome! Although the calendar says June, up here in the upper left hand corner of the map it is still cool. I made this soup today substituting 1/2 cup brown rice for the potatoes. It came out wonderfully thick, rich and so tasty that my non-vegan husband helped himself to seconds. Very easy to toss together but special enough for company.
Dreena says
Glad to hear it, Katie! My husband really loves this soup too, goes back for seconds, thirds… 🙂 Lovely to hear your feedback!
caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
oh my gosh that looks so delicious! that color!! so vibrant and fun! i can’t wait to try this recipe! thanks for sharing!
JULIE says
This soup is delicious! I didn’t have cumin seeds or bay leaf and it was still so good. That’s one of the many things I love about your soup recipes, you can leave some things out and sub with others if needed and they are always winners. We eat soup every season of the year. It’s a perfect way for our 3 year old (and us) to get lots of veggies and nutrition in one delicous bowl. Thanks for all the wonderful soup recipes – yours are featured at our house every week!
Dreena says
Thank you so much Julie! What a treat to read, I’m so pleased your family enjoys many of my soup recipes… I’ll keep ’em coming! Thanks for the note. 🙂
Marsha says
This soup looks great, Dreena! I too am a HUGE fan of soups even in 100 degree weather we have here! I eat inside with the A/C on. 🙂 A couple questions though. I love chunky soups, does this work without pureeing completely. And I’m always in a hurry, have you made this in a crockpot before? Thanks much!
Dreena says
Me too Marsha, soup really is for all seasons! For sure, you don’t have to puree this through if you prefer it more chunky. Also, sometimes I part-puree. Just put in the stick blender and puree in spots. That way it keeps some texture, but adds some creaminess too. I haven’t made this in a crockpot. I’m sure it would work okay though, it seems crock-friendly! Do you do much crockpot cooking?
Marsha says
I try to in the summer. That way I’m not slaving over the stove when it’s over 100 degrees outside. Eek! I was good with eat when I was a meat eater, now I’m learning all over again. 🙂 Lentils seem to work well using a crockpot. Thanks!!
Audrey says
This sounds fantastic, Dreena! I’ve added it to me “to-make” list from LTEV. I love how your daughter has such fond memories of this soup. 🙂 Oh, and that cashew cheese is definitely calling my name!
P.S. Your photos are looking great lately!!
Dreena says
OHHHH, thanks a bunch for noting that Audrey! I’m using a new camera for my photos, and working hard to learn more and bring the yum factor to the screen. I wondered if it was coming through at all – thank you for that feedback. 😀
Bethany says
Hi Dreena! I am SO with you about “sneaking” so much nutrition into soups in order to feed my son! He also happens to love soups, which is a bonus 🙂
My favorite soup ever – hands down – is your Sweet Potato and Lentil Chili from EDBV. I can’t even tell you how many times I have made this. It is PERFECT! I have fed it to countless people, including PICKY omnis, and everyone loves it. Actually, you are my go-to soup person! Out of all the cookbooks I have, I have made your soups more than anyone else’s, by a landslide. One Wild Chick Soup, Moroccan Bean Stew, Mellow Lentil Sniffle Soup..I make these time and again. You may be the “Cookie Queen,” but in my house, you’re also the “Yummy Soup Queen!” 🙂
Audrey says
Totally agree–I love all of Dreena’s fabulous soup combinations. 🙂
Dreena says
Thank you Audrey!!
Dreena says
Bethany, that is SO wonderful to know, thank you!! I love that sweet potato chili too, so I’m glad it’s a hit in your home as well. And, I’m quite happy having more than one crown… one for cookies, one for soups… maybe another for beans… 😉