• 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
  • Mediterranean Grilling For Everyone eCookbook
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • Mediterranean Grilling For Everyone eCookbook
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • Mediterranean Grilling For Everyone eCookbook
  • 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 .

    4438 shares
    • 68
    Jump to 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 topped with tomatoes and herbs.
      Ful Medames Recipe (Egyptian Fava Beans)
    • Perfect White Bean Soup Recipe
    • Vegan eggplant chickpea stew.
      Vegan Eggplant Chickpea Stew Recipe
    • ground beef stew Turkish style served with rice.
      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

    Turmeric 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!
    4.65 from 74 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes 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!

    More Soup and Stew Recipes

    • Perfect Roasted Cauliflower Soup Recipe
    • Homemade Minestrone Soup Recipe
    • Chicken Stew Recipe - Turkish Style
    • Moroccan Style Red Lentil Soup Recipe
    4438 shares
    • 68

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food

      June 20, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      I am also a huuuuuge fan of turmeric. Such a lovely, warm flavor! And I love lentil soup, so this recipe is a home run in my book!

      Reply
    2. Tawnie Kroll

      June 20, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      I love soup year round, and this hit the spot. So flavorful!

      Reply
    3. Traci

      June 20, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, delicious, and healthy! This lentil soup checks all the boxes for me for a desirable dinner. Thanks for another great recipe!

      Reply
    4. Anita

      June 20, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      5 stars
      A new way to prepare lentil soup for my family and they are loving it although I was using green lentils. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Gina

        January 11, 2022 at 9:40 pm

        5 stars
        This soup was just what I needed to warm up tonight. Quick, easy, and delicious. It really hit the spot!

        Reply
    5. Kristin

      June 20, 2020 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      My family wasn't too sure about this when I told them I was making it, but they were pleasantly surprised that it is delicious with so much favor! Thanks for the great healthy recipe! I feel good about serving this to my family.

      Reply
    6. L

      December 04, 2019 at 8:20 am

      5 stars
      I got around to making it. It's good! I added some carrots and potatoes and small shells.
      I like the spices but I think I got carried away (it's spicy) I also added garam masala, much more water/vegetable broth and cooked it a little longer, checking it often. Next time I will add spinach.

      Do you think this recipe would work with brown lentils or green lentils? I realize I would have to presoak and cook them for a bit before adding.
      Thanks

      Reply
    7. Sanda Backus

      November 26, 2019 at 6:32 pm

      I want to make a big batch of this soup for 10 to 12 people. How do I adjust the amount of ingredients? Do I just double everything? .... the so double the amount of garlic, onions, ginger, lentils, broth and the spices?
      If so, can I put double the amount into the instant pot or should I cook it in Dutch oven on stove instead?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        November 29, 2019 at 9:36 am

        Hi Sanda, yes to feed 12 people double (or triple if you know you're serving in larger bowls) all the ingredients. If your instant pot is an 8 Qt, it should be fine. Making this soup on the stove wouldn't take that long so that could be a good option as well.

        Reply
    8. L

      November 26, 2019 at 8:58 am

      5 stars
      Recipe looks good. What veggies would you recommend adding? Spinach? carrots?
      Do you think adding 1 tbs of garam marsala would work?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        November 26, 2019 at 11:32 am

        Hi! Carrots and potatoes work very well in this recipe. Also, if adding spinach, make sure to add it at the very end and stir until wilted. A splash of fresh lemon juice would be good too! I think adding garam masala to the soup instead of the mentioned spices is a good idea as well! Enjoy!

        Reply
        • L

          November 26, 2019 at 12:03 pm

          Thanks.
          I meant adding the garam masala along with the other spices. Too much? The spices confuse me. I find them to be tricky. I may use a homemade vegetable stock (low sodium) instead of water.
          Like you said, add water as needed. Those red lentils are delicate, you have to keep an eye on them when they are cooking.

    9. Erin

      July 27, 2019 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this soup tonight. It was perfectly simple, as I'm low on ingredients this week due to going away soon. It was soooo delicious! I went back for seconds. I used 2 cups lentils and about 6 cups water as suggested, and after 25 minutes I did add some more water just to soup it up a bit as the lentils had absorbed it all up already. Didn't use stock because I had already put enough salt in. And added a small chilli as needed to use those up. Soooo yummy! Usually I add loads of different things like carrots or potatoes but I didn't have any of that, so it was nice to see that it doesn't take away from the flavour. In fact I'm sure that not adding potatoes enhances the flavour more. Thanks so much for sharing this!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        August 06, 2019 at 6:47 am

        Thank you for your kind comment Erin, we are glad to know you enjoyed this recipe!

        Reply
    10. Sandra Kraft

      June 24, 2019 at 8:33 am

      I have fresh tumeric I want to use. How much should I use?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        June 24, 2019 at 6:34 pm

        Hi Sandra, I haven't made this soup with fresh turmeric yet so I cannot give you exact measurements, but I suggest you start with 1/2 inch grated turmeric and add more if needed.

        Reply
    11. Justine

      April 10, 2019 at 10:02 am

      5 stars
      This was so good! I loved the addition of turmeric!

      Reply
    12. Sommer

      April 10, 2019 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      This soup is packed full of delicious flavors! Love it.

      Reply
    13. Sally Sonnex

      September 29, 2018 at 4:28 am

      5 stars
      I love lentil soup. I put in a lot of ginger and served it with some fresh lime juice ... so good I had to have a second bowl 😋

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        September 29, 2018 at 9:24 am

        Yay Sally! Glad you like this lentil soup, it's totally a favorite over here!

        Reply
    14. Andrea

      September 25, 2018 at 2:13 pm

      I think there is a misprint in your recipe. I made it as shown with 2 cups of lentils.....with only 4 cups of water it was the consistency of porridge. I read through the reviews and your replies and saw that you mentioned 1 cup of lentils should be used. I added about 3 cups additional water and the consistency is good now. Flavor is good!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        September 25, 2018 at 3:26 pm

        Hi Andrea, thank you for your comment and yes, red lentils absorb too much water and sometimes, there's need for more water/broth. I've just fixed the notes and I'm glad to hear you like this red lentil soup!

        Reply
    15. SANDRA MURRAY

      February 20, 2018 at 6:04 am

      5 stars
      Just made this soup and it is amazing. My lot are getting stuck into it. Will be a favourite in this house

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        February 20, 2018 at 6:26 am

        Hi Sandra! Glad to hear you love this soup! It's a favorite over here, too!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    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...

    Readers Favorites!

    • Turkish Bulgur Pilaf Recipe
    • Easy Lavash Bread Recipe
    • Kashke Bademjan (Persian Eggplant Dip)
    • Greek Eggplant Moussaka Recipe

    Latest Recipes

    • Here is a collection of our best lentil recipes. From soups and salads to classic lentil main dishes, you can find many tasty recipes here. So, whether you're in the mood for a comforting bowl of lentil soup or a healthy lentil salad made with fresh ingredients, this collection has you covered.
      Best Lentil Recipes To Try
    • Easy focaccia recipe.
      Easy Focaccia Recipe
    • How to cut a pomegranate.
      How To Cut A Pomegranate
    • Looking for delicious comfort food recipes? Here is a collection of comfort food that are cozy and easy to make. Whether you like soup ,meatballs, pasta or rice dishes ,you can find your favorite comfort food recipe here and enjoy!
      Best Comfort Food Recipes

    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. Read about privacy policy and copyright. Our site contains affiliate links.

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