• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
always use butter
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Soups

    Vegan Lentil Soup (Gluten Free and Dairy Free)

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on February 17, 2019, updated October 13, 2021 - 50 Comments

    Total time: 50 minutes minutes
    Prep time: 5 minutes minutes
    5 from 9 votes
    Jump to Recipe
    VEGAN LENTIL SOUP - pin image
    VEGAN LENTIL SOUP - pin image

    This Vegan Lentil Soup is a delicious, healthy and comforting dish, full of flavor from few and simple ingredients and a perfect lunch for babes on a budget - or anyone just craving something hot and tasty and, if you wish, slightly spicy.

    It will suit most special diets as well as it's Vegan, Low Fat, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free and basically free of most allergens. Don't be alarmed by the cooking time - most of this is idle time so you can spend it doing something other than watch the pot boil.

    Save This Recipe Form

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from us each week!

    two bowls of vegan lentil soup

    I have a Turkish friend who cooks for me sometimes. A few weeks ago he made me this lentil soup - and while initially skeptical (Lentils?? Aren't they just super boring??) he created some magical dolma for me the week before and so I went with it. And wow, did that skepticism fade quickly!!

    With just a few simple and cheap ingredients, no fancy techniques, and not a lot of actual "hands-on" cooking (more on the level of making sure the pot doesn't boil over) this is a soup to keep coming back to. It's so complex and full of flavor, and one of few soups I don't even get bored of - I just want another spoon, and another, and another...

    I know I will be making it over and over for a long time!

    two bowls of vegan lentil soup with a basil plant in the background

    How to make Vegan Lentil Soup

    Making this Vegan Lentil Soup is super easy and done with just a few ingredients. The only difficult part is actually remembering to put the lentils in water the day before, but as long as you get that right you will have no trouble with the rest!

    This soup consists of two parts: cooked lentils and the sauce base. We make them separately, mix them together and then let them cook together to become one.

    How to soak and cook lentils

    Because yes, we use the dry, uncooked lentils for this. There really is no other way. Sorry about that. But hey, you're only putting them in water and letting them sit there overnight - so it's really not that much work.

    When soaking the lentils, go ahead and add a lot of water. There really is no reason not to - so just make sure they have all the water they need. Then place in a cool place in your kitchen and go about your day.

    three pictures of lentils: from left to right soaked & drained lentils, lentils covered in water and cooked lentils

    When cooking time comes around, drain the lentils and add them to a large pot. Add in cold water and salt according to the recipe and place over medium-high heat.

    Cook for 20-30 minutes, until the lentils are soft. Don't worry if they get all mushy - that's 100% OK. We're gonna mush them all up anyway.

    How to make the sauce base for Vegan Lentil Soup

    While the lentils are cooking, go ahead and make the sauce base. It's almost as easy as cooking the lentils!

    three pictures showing frying the onion for vegan lentil soup

    Start by chopping your onion really finely. Then fry it up in vegetable oil until soft, translucent and slightly browned.

    two pictures showing how to make the sauce base for vegan lentil soup

    Once the onion is cooked perfectly, deglaze the pan with the vegetable stock. Now deglazing might sound fancy but it basically just means pour it in there and let it loosen all those delicious flavors from the pan.

    Let the vegetable stock and onion cook for a minute or so, then add in the paprika purée along with all the spices, taste test and adjust - especially the spice. Just keep in mind that the spiciness will increase as you cook the soup, so you might want to keep it a bit on the low end for now.

    Once you're satisfied - leave the sauce base to cook for at least 10 minutes over medium heat.

    How to combine the lentils and sauce base for Vegan Lentil Soup

    Now we've cooked our lentils and we've cooked or sauce base. So what's left is combining the two!

    two pictures showing vegan lentil soup being mixed

    Start by mixing the lentils with their cooking water, using an immersion blender. Once it's all mixed together, add in the sauce base and mix again.

    When you're happy with the consistency, taste test - adjust if necessary - and place the pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for at least 15 minutes.

    How to adjust the consistency of Lentil Soup

    Now this Vegan Lentil Soup uses no thickener apart from the lentils. It really doesn't need it. However, you can still very easily adjust the thickness of the soup.

    How to thicken Lentil Soup

    If you want a thicker soup - add less water, or let it cook for longer in the final step.

    How to make Lentil Soup thinner

    If you want a thinner soup - add more water, either from the start or after cooking.

    Another option is to let it cook for a shorter while, but I wouldn't recommend it as this cooking time brings out so much flavor.

    two bowls of vegan lentil soup with a basil plant in the background

    How to season Vegan Lentil Soup

    This Vegan Lentil Soup is seasoned with chili flakes, cayenne pepper, thyme and basil. And some basic salt and black pepper, of course. If you don't have these spics at home, don't worry! Just add something else.

    Try for at least one type of chili (chili flakes, chili powder, fresh chili or just cayenne pepper) and some type of herb (thyme and basil are delicious, but I also added in some fresh cilantro at the end once and oh my god can you say flavor explosion??).

    Basically - this is supposed to be a cheap and simple dish, so don't make it too complicated. Use what you have, and make it your own.

    two bowls of vegan lentil soup

    What goes with Vegan Lentil Soup?

    Now this is a super low calorie meal, so I like to pair it with some other good stuff. The easiest choice of course being a piece of nice bread - but another (lower carb...) favorite is to add some crumbled feta cheese on top.

    Oh and you know how I love my textures? Well, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds make a great topping for this! And that nice crunch...

    two bowls of vegan lentil soup and a spoonful of lentil soup

    Over to you now - promise you'll try this, even if lentils aren't your thing. It just ticks all the boxes - easy, delicious, healthy and CHEAP - so I'm quite sure you will also end up making it over, and over, and over...

    Not quite what you were after? Maybe this Almost Vegan Thai Ginger Coconut Soup, this Spicy Chicken Soup or a Vegan Miso Mushroom Ramen would do the trick instead?

    Did you try it? Let me know by leaving a comment and/or a rating below!

    Recipe

    Vegan Lentil Soup

    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine: Turkish
    Servings: 3 people
    Calories: 358kcal
    Prep time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook time: 45 minutes mins
    Soaking time 12 hours hours
    Total time: 50 minutes minutes
    Author: Emmeline Kemperyd
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • ½ lb uncooked red lentils
    • 4 cups cold water
    • 1 teaspoon salt divided
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 yellow onion finely chopped
    • 2 cups vegetable stock
    • 2 tablespoon paprika purée / paprika paste
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
    • 0.25 teaspoon chili flakes to taste and desired spice level
    • 0.25 teaspoon cayenne powder

    To serve

    • chili flakes optional
    • fresh basil optional
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Soaking the lentils: at least 12 hours before cooking

    • Place the uncooked lentils in a bowl and fill it up with water. The water should more than cover the lentils.

    Cooking the Lentil Soup

    • Drain the lentils and place in a pot large enough to fit all ingredients and still have room to blend it. Add the cold water and half of the salt. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil for 20-30 minutes until the lentils are soft and easy to smush.
    • While the lentils are cooking, start with the sauce. Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat and add in the onion. Fry for about 5 minutes, until the onion is soft, translucent and slightly browned.
    • Add the vegetable stock to the pan, bring to a boil and cook for a minute.
    • Add in the paprika purée, thyme, basil, black pepper, chili flakes, cayenne powder and the other half of the salt. Mix well and let cook for at least 10 minutes.
    • When the lentils are cooked soft, take them off the heat and mix - with the cooking water - using an immersion blender. Add in the paprika and onion sauce and mix again. Place back over medium high heat and bring back to a boil. Let cook for at least 15 minutes, then check the consistency - add more water if too thick or let cook a bit longer if too thin.
    • When the soup is finished and you're happy with the consistency - take it off the heat and taste test. Serve in individual bowls and top the soup with chili flakes and fresh basil.

    Notes

    • Adjust the spice according to taste and the chili flakes you use - some are really spicy, and others not so much. As always, taste throughout and you will be fine! If you're worried about the dish being too spicy - add a little at the beginning and more at the end, if you think there's not enough spice.
    • Adjust the consistency to suit your taste - this version creates the perfect consistency for me - not runny but not too thick - but you might want to make it thicker or thinner. For a thinner soup, add more water - you can do this at the end if you're unsure how much to add. For a thicker sop, add less water or let it cook longer.
    • Serve with some nice bread to make into a complete meal.
    • Add some pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds on top for a bit of crunch.
    • Top it all with feta cheese if you're feeling extra indulgent. It's delicious!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 1504mg | Potassium: 896mg | Fiber: 26g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 670IU | Vitamin C: 7.5mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 7.2mg

    Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.

    Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!

    More Soup Recipes

    • Salmon stew.
      Salmon Stew
    • Olive Garden Vegan Gnocchi Soup
      12 Effortless Soup Recipes To Help You Survive Winter
    • Greek potatoes topped with Feta cheese.
      50 Best Potato Recipes for Dinner
    • A bowl of instant pot chicken soup.
      Instant Pot Chicken Soup

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara Bachman

      October 06, 2020 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      Can't wait to make this but what is the paprika puree? Thanks for the help! Looks delicious.

      Reply
      • Emmeline Kemperyd

        October 07, 2020 at 11:32 am

        Hi Sara! Paprika puree is like tomato puree - but made from paprika peppers. It's usually sold in a glass jar and can be found around the same place in the store as tomato puree or bouillons. If your regular store doesn't have it, it can be worth checking stores that carry more middle eastern food as this is often used in middle eastern cooking. Hope that helps and let me know how it turns out! /Emmeline

        Reply
    2. Cassidy

      March 04, 2019 at 8:24 am

      I'm not vegan, but this sounds so tasty! Can't wait to give this recipe a go myself!

      Kasey Ma
      http://www.TheStyleWright.com

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        March 04, 2019 at 1:16 pm

        Thank you Cassidy! I'm definitely no vegan either - but if everything vegan tasted like this I sure wouldn't mind! 😀

        Reply
    3. Alyssa

      February 26, 2019 at 8:02 am

      This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        March 04, 2019 at 2:26 pm

        Thank you so much, Alyssa!

        Reply
    4. Danielle

      February 25, 2019 at 2:59 pm

      How yummy does this look?! I will have to give this recipe a try!!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 25, 2019 at 3:43 pm

        Thank you Danielle! Let me know when you've tried it! 😀

        Reply
    5. Jasmeet Singh

      February 21, 2019 at 12:49 pm

      Lentils are an important part of our daily food. This soup looks so yummy.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:21 pm

        Thank you Jasmeet!

        Reply
    6. Elizabeth O

      February 21, 2019 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      I always like reading recipes and I am glad to receive this Vegan Lentil Soup recipe. Thanks for showing all the ingredients and the procedure. It makes easy and there is enough calories in this soup.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:21 pm

        Thank you Elizabeth!

        Reply
    7. Nandita

      February 21, 2019 at 10:34 am

      5 stars
      Lentil soup or 'daal' as we call it is a staple at most Indian meals and is made quite similar to your recipe here...very healthy & delicious.
      - Nandita

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:22 pm

        Oh cool! This is made from a Turkish/Kurdish recipe but it seems like there are so many similarities between that cuisine & Indian - they have their version of naan as well, for example. Would love to go have some daal in India one day!

        Reply
    8. Larisa

      February 21, 2019 at 9:50 am

      Wow, this recipe looks amazing and I am sure it tastes delicious as well. I will definitely give it a try. Thank you for sharing

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:22 pm

        Thank you Larisa!

        Reply
    9. Preet

      February 21, 2019 at 3:49 am

      I love finding a new veggies recipe to try. I’m always so scared I am going to mess it up somehow. This looks easy enough for me though. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:23 pm

        Thank you Preet!

        Reply
    10. Alexandra Cook

      February 21, 2019 at 3:46 am

      I love this recipe so much! Every single ingredient sounds amazing, I’ll definitely be adding this to my list of things to try!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:23 pm

        Thank you Alexandra!!

        Reply
    11. Sincerely Miss J

      February 21, 2019 at 2:58 am

      I am not vegan but this soup looks tasty. I also love how the recipe looks easy to follow.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:23 pm

        Thank you so much! Good enough to eat even if you're not vegan, trust me 😉

        Reply
    12. Amber Solis

      February 20, 2019 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      I have always wanted to try to make a lentil soup and this looks easy and yummy. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:24 pm

        Thank you Amber!

        Reply
    13. Lyosha

      February 20, 2019 at 6:52 pm

      5 stars
      the soup looks super delicious and warm. I love soups for colder season. The recipe sounds great to me, I really want to try it once I am back home. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:24 pm

        Thank you Lyosha! Yep warm & a bit of spice - perfect to warm up 😉

        Reply
    14. Geraline Batarra

      February 20, 2019 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this recipe makes me crave for lentils at thus very moment. It was so simple, i want to make it right away.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:24 pm

        Thank you so much Geraline, hope you try it!

        Reply
    15. Samantha Flores

      February 20, 2019 at 9:15 am

      Looks delicious and simple enough to make! I especially like the idea of the crumbled feta cheese on top (although, I do typically love some bread on the side). I can see this soup going nicely as a meal on its own or even as a small appetizer. Thanks for sharing!

      *Samantha- https://herjournal.blog

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:25 pm

        Thank you Samantha! Well I won't tell if you do both the feta cheese & the bread in the same sitting 😉

        Reply
    16. Adriana

      February 20, 2019 at 6:51 am

      Ive never had lentil soup. Ive tried a few of your recipes and I've loved it. I have to try this one.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:25 pm

        Thank you so much Adriana! I was actually never a fan of lentil soup before I tried this recipe. Game changer!

        Reply
    17. Michael

      February 20, 2019 at 6:06 am

      Sounds super healthy. You are inspiring many with this post.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:26 pm

        Thank you so much, Michael!

        Reply
    18. Jennifer Morrison

      February 20, 2019 at 2:38 am

      5 stars
      I am thankful I found this recipe! It looks so yummy and I love how simple it is! I have had two packages of lentils for a while, and was not sure how to use them. Now I am!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:26 pm

        Thank you Jennifer! Yep, perfect way to use them up! 😀

        Reply
    19. shelby

      February 20, 2019 at 2:28 am

      That soup looks so good! I will have to share this recipe with my friend. She is obsessed with making soups to take to work for lunch.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:26 pm

        Thank you Shelby! Oh yes, perfect lunch!

        Reply
    20. susan

      February 19, 2019 at 7:13 pm

      So, I don't love lentils but I make a very similar soup using chickpeas! Very hearty - and I'm assuming pretty healthy!!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:27 pm

        Oh chickpeas sound yummy in a soup as well! Will have to try that!

        Reply
    21. Emily Fata

      February 19, 2019 at 6:01 pm

      As someone finally transitioned to a vegan diet (YAY!), this is right up my alley! I'll have to try making it this week.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:27 pm

        Well then this one is definitely for you Emily! Thank you for commenting!

        Reply
    22. Natalie L.

      February 19, 2019 at 5:41 pm

      Yum this looks delicious!!! Book marking for dinner tonight!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:28 pm

        Thank you Natalie! Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    23. Jesusa Gilliam

      February 19, 2019 at 5:02 pm

      5 stars
      This soup sounds so tasty! Some of my best friends are vegans and we usually get together a few times a month and make a vegan dish for dinner I know they will love this soup.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:28 pm

        Thank you Jesusa! Oh it will be perfect then! And it's so tasty that even if some of them aren't vegan they will love it!

        Reply
    24. GiGi Eats

      February 19, 2019 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      Lentils are so insanely underrated so I am thrilled to see you make them the starring ingredient 🙂

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 22, 2019 at 5:29 pm

        So true!! And to think I thought I didn't like lentils? I have so been missing out!

        Reply
    25. Anna

      February 17, 2019 at 11:37 pm

      When I come across soup recipes like this, I regret having a family full of soup-haters. I'm the only one of five that actually enjoys soup. 🙁 I really love the spices used in this recipe, and the photos make it look mouth watering, so I might just have to make it anyway and eat it all myself for lunches.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        February 18, 2019 at 10:50 am

        Thank you so much for your comment, Anna! But look on the bright side - having a family of soup-haters means you get to keep it all for yourself 😉

        Reply
    5 from 9 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Sliced air fryer roast beef.
      Air Fryer Roast Beef
    • top down view of a tortellini casserole
      Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Spinach
    • Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake [Dump and bake!]
    • sliced rib eye steak topped with salt
      How to Cook a Rib Eye Steak Without a Cast Iron Skillet (3 Methods)

    Popular Articles

    • Ravioli lasagna.
      26 Ground Beef Dinners That Will Have Everyone Asking for Seconds
    • Sloppy joe tater tot casserole.
      24 Cheap Casseroles We’re Craving Right Now
    • Chicken thigh tray bake.
      22 Dump-And-Go Recipes That Will Make You Love Cooking Again
    • Tikka masala.
      22 Delicious Crockpot Chicken Meals You Can Just Set and Forget

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    All affiliate links are always marked with "*" or "affiliate".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    A collage of sites where always use butter content has been featured.

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • info@alwaysusebutter.com
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2018-2025 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.