• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Unicorns in the Kitchen

Easy family approved recipes from our Kitchen to yours. Persian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes made easy with fresh ingredients and step-by-step instructions.

  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • E-cookbooks
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • E-cookbooks
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • E-cookbooks
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
  • ×

    Home » Soups and Stews

    Turmeric Ginger Red Lentil Soup Recipe

    Published: Sep 23, 2019 · Modified: Jun 2, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    4307 shares
    • 68
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Ready in only 30 minutes, this turmeric ginger red lentil soup is everyone's favorite. This is a healthy and hearty soup recipe that's full of flavor!

    This is the only red lentil soup recipe you ever need! Creamy lentil soup with turmeric and ginger is full of flavors and very comforting. It's a quick and easy soup that everyone loves! 

    My readers probably know by now that I'm a big fan of easy soup recipes, especially ones that are made with lentils. Give me a bowl of Mediterranean green lentil soup, instant pot lentil soup, Moroccan red lentil soup or Turkish red lentil soup and I'm happy! This red lentil soup recipe is another staple in our home. It's full of aromatic and tasty spices!

    Table Of Contents:
    • About this recipe
    • Ingredients 
    • Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • How to make this soup in instant pot
    • Notes and tips
    • More soup recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    About this recipe

    Nothing beats a delicious creamy lentil soup when you're craving comfort food. It's easy and can be ready in only 30 minutes.

    This recipe is all about spices and flavors. The combination of garlic, ginger and spices add a lot of flavor to the soup. Red lentils don't have much flavor on their own, but they have an amazing creamy texture once cooked that nicely complements the warm flavors.

    close up shot red lentil soup topped with red pepper.

    Ingredients 

    Olive oil: I love using extra virgin olive oil for cooking. The fruitiness and earthiness of a good quality olive oil enhances the flavor of simple ingredients. 

    Onion, garlic and ginger: Every delicious dish starts with sauteing onion and garlic in some olive oil. Don't be shy when it comes to using garlic: the more the merrier! As for ginger, you can use freshly grated ginger or ginger powder. 

    Pro tip: Keep some ginger in the freezer and simply grate it when you need it for a recipe. 

    Red lentils: Red lentils come with many benefits. They lower cholesterol and help with digestion. You can find red lentils at almost any supermarket. They are small, and when cooked, they fall apart and become very creamy. Not only they're great for soup, but you can also make other dishes such as vegan lentil meatballs using red lentils. 

    Spices: Cumin, turmeric, paprika and salt are the spices used in this recipe. If you like spicy soups, you can add a bit of cayenne pepper. 

    To make spicy red lentil soup you need red lentils, onion, garlic, spices and olive oil.

    Instructions

    • Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic and ginger until the onion is translucent and golden. 
    • Add cumin, turmeric, and paprika and salt to the ingredients you just sautéed. Stir to combine so the spices start releasing their aromas. Next, add in the red lentils and stir for one minute.
    sauté onion and garlic and then add the spices and red lentil.
    • Add in the water or vegetable stock and bring the soup to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 25 to 30 minutes until the lentils are creamy and fully cooked.
    • Right before serving this red lentil soup, add a squeeze of lemon juice and give it a nice stir. Lemon juice gives this soup some brightness and fresh flavor. 
    Stir well and add water then bring it to simmer and cook.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need to blend this soup?

    I didn't blend this turmeric ginger lentil soup after cooking but you can of course blend it with an immersion blender (or, for that matter, in a standard blender) if you want an even smoother soup.

    What is the difference between red lentils and green lentils?

    Red lentils turn yellow when they're cooked and they get very very soft whereas green lentils hold their shape and stay green/light brown once they're cooked.

    How long does red lentil soup keep?

    You can make a big batch of this soup and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, transfer the soup to a sauce pan, add ⅓ cup water and simmer over medium low heat, stirring occasionally. 

    How can I freeze this soup?

    Store the soup in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, simply transfer the frozen soup to a sauce pan or a pot and add ½ to 1 cup water. Simmer over medium low until the soup is completely heated through. 

    How to make this soup in instant pot

    It's very easy to make red lentil soup in instant pot:

    • Press the sauté function and sauté onion, garlic and ginger until translucent.
    • Add in spices and stir well to combine.
    • Stir in lentils and add 4-5 cups of water to the pot.
    • Lock the lid and press pressure cook and set the valve to seal and set the timer for 10 minutes.
    • Once the cooking time ends, turn the valve to venting and do a quick release and serve.
    This turmeric red lentil soup is topped with paprika and parsley.

    Notes and tips

    • A small amount of turmeric goes a long way so you want to make sure you don't overuse it - otherwise the dish will be overpowering.
    • For a creamier texture, blend the soup in a blender on high for 3 minutes.
    • If fresh ginger is not available, you can use 1 teaspoon ginger powder.
    • If you like this red lentil soup to be spicy, add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the soup at the end.
    • Red lentils absorb a lot of water; if the soups starts to be very thick, add in half a cup of water at a time.
    • You can also make this delicious red lentil soup with vegetable broth.

    More soup recipes

    • Ful Medames Recipe (Egyptian Fava Beans)
    • Perfect White Bean Soup Recipe
    • Vegan Eggplant Chickpea Stew Recipe
    • Ground Beef Stew, Turkish Style

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Red Lentil Soup Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Ready in only 30 minutes, this turmeric ginger red lentil soup is everyone's favorite. This is a healthy and hearty soup recipe that's full of flavor!
    4.64 from 69 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 413 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 2 Onions Diced
    • 4 cloves Garlic Minced
    • 2 teaspoon Ginger
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon Paprika
    • 2 cup Red Lentils
    • 6-7 cups Water or broth
    • 2 teaspoon Salt

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. 
    • Saute onion until translucent. Add in garlic and ginger and give it a nice stir. 
    • Add in turmeric , cumin and paprika. Saute for two minutes until the spices release their aromas. 
    • Add in red lentils, stir for a minute.
    • Add in the water and turn the heat up so the soup starts simmering. Lower the heat, cover and cook for 25 to 30 minutes until the lentils are fully cooked. Add in salt to taste. 
    • Serve warm. 

    Notes

    • A small amount of turmeric goes a long way so you want to make sure you don't overuse it - otherwise the dish will be overpowering.
    • For a creamier texture, blend the soup in a blender on high for 3 minutes.
    • If fresh ginger is not available, you can use 1 teaspoon ginger powder.
    • If you like this red lentil soup to be spicy, add ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the soup at the end.
    • Red lentils absorb a lot of water; if the soups starts to be very thick, add in half a cup of water at a time.
    • You can also make this delicious red lentil soup with vegetable broth.
    • Red lentils absorb a lot of water, if the soup is too thick, add another half a cup of water. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 413kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 24gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 1190mgPotassium: 996mgFiber: 29gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 289IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 8mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
    « Easy Raspberry Danish
    Italian Homemade Beef Stew »
    4307 shares
    • 68

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. barbara

      February 21, 2022 at 7:26 am

      is that dried or fresh ginger?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        February 22, 2022 at 5:27 am

        Fresh ginger is preferred.

        Reply
    2. Missy

      January 17, 2022 at 4:33 pm

      Is it okay to soak the red lentils prior to cooking them?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        January 18, 2022 at 7:54 am

        They cook in 20 minutes there is no need to soak them 🙂

        Reply
    3. Beth

      January 11, 2022 at 10:00 pm

      5 stars
      Healthy, flavorful and ready in 30 minutes? Sign me up! Perfect dish that the whole family will love!

      Reply
    4. Sara Welch

      September 23, 2021 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love soup season for recipes just like this one! Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! So hearty and flavorful; easily, a new favorite recipe!

      Reply
    5. Seema Sriram

      September 22, 2021 at 6:53 pm

      5 stars
      We loved this soup. It was so soothing, filling and did we did not crave for the midnight snack. This will permanently be on the menu for ever.

      Reply
    6. Heather Johnson

      September 22, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      5 stars
      so delicious - comforting yummy soup - love it!

      Reply
    7. Angela

      September 22, 2021 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      Love this soup! It's so healthy and easy to make. I even like eating it cold. Thanks for the awesome recipe... I'll be making this all fall!

      Reply
    8. Kristen Wood

      September 22, 2021 at 4:22 pm

      5 stars
      This was so hearty and filling! Thanks for the fabulous recipe!!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest

    Welcome to Unicorns in the Kitchen, where we share delicious recipes from our kitchen to yours. You’re in for a delicious adventure and collection of unique and tasty recipes.

    Read more...

    Fall Dinner Ideas

    • Tomato Rice Persian Style (Dami Gojeh Farangi)
    • Easy Greek Pastitsio Recipe
    • Roasted Chicken and Vegetables Turkish Style
    • Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions

    Latest Recipes

    • Best Mother's Day Brunch Ideas
    • Best Blackened Salmon Recipe
    • 65+ Best Persian Recipes To Try
    • Burrata with Tomatoes and Peach

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • About US

    All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images or recipes without prior permission. Read about privacy policy and copyright Here. Our site contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting.

    Copyright 2019, All rights reserved.
    Read about privacy policy and copyright Here.

    4307 shares