Easy 1-Pot Vegan Lentil Veggie Soup

Here's everything you need, to know how to make vegan lentil soup!

Ingredient Notes

• Lentils - I prefer organic brown or green lentils. I used green lentils in this recipe.
• Mixed vegetables - I like the convenience of frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower, but you can substitute with any variety of frozen mixed veggies or, of course, you can use fresh vegetables too.
• Celery - fresh
• Vegetable broth - homemade or store-bought vegan broth or bouillon. (Make sure to use gluten-free if needed).
• Salt & pepper
• Fresh lemon - optional
• Plain vegan yogurt - optional. Be sure to use unsweetened vegan yogurt.

🥕See the printable recipe card below for quantities & details.

Instructions

Thoroughly rinse uncooked lentils with water. Drain well.

🥕Cooking Tip

Don't add salt to the water while the lentils are cooking. It can make them tough.

Pour lentils into a large pot and cover with water.

Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer about 15-20 minutes.

Lentils are ready when they're tender but not mushy.

Add vegetable broth, celery, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Stir in salt & pepper. Continue simmering until veggies are tender (about 15 minutes).

Remove soup from heat and serve!

🥕Serving Tip

A drizzle of plain vegan yogurt and lemon wedges provide a refreshing bright contrast to the mellow and nutty flavors of the lentils & veggies.

What are lentils?

Lentils - like beans and peas - are legumes, and grow in pods. Lentils are considered a healthy substitute for meat because they're high in protein and fiber and low in fat. They also contain other essential nutrients such as iron, phosphorus, potassium and folate. Learn more here.

You can purchase lentils dried or precooked in cans or pouches and will find them in several varieties, usually described by color.

• Green lentils - also known as French lentils, have a subtle nutty flavor and stay fairly firm when cooked. Green lentils are a good choice for salads and soups.
• Brown lentils - hold their texture if not over-cooked. Brown lentils are popular in vegan burgers and in soups. They're also the least expensive variety of lentil.
• Black lentils - also known as Beluga lentils, are similar in texture to green lentils but are black in color.
• Red lentils - are the fastest cooking lentils and get quite soft when cooked. Red lentils are commonly used in purees and Indian dals.
• Yellow lentils - are similar to red lentils, with a slightly sweet taste. Yellow lentils are a bright yellow color.

🥕 Variations

Once you see how simple it is to prepare a pot of delicious, basic lentil soup, you can let your imagination run wild using a variety of ingredients. For example:

• Mexican Lentil Soup - use brown lentils, add black beans, sautéed onions, chopped tomatoes, corn, peppers, chili lime seasoning. Garnish with vegan sour cream, a sprig of cilantro or avocado.
• Curry Lentil Stew - use yellow or red lentils, add curry powder, coconut milk, diced potato, chickpeas, or green peas.
• Sweet Potato Lentil Soup - add diced sweet potatoes, fresh herbs, chopped kale.
• Mediterranean Lentil Soup - use green lentils, sundried tomatoes, cannellini beans and fresh basil.

Equipment

You only need a few basic kitchen items to create this recipe.

• 6 quart stovetop pot (just 1-pot needed)
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• Strainer
• Kitchen knife
• Cutting board
• Long spoon for stirring