Vegetarian Red Lentil Soup with Cumin and Lemon

Total time55 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time40 min

Vegetarian Red Lentil Soup with Cumin and Lemon

This warmly spiced red lentil soup builds layers of flavor from a base of sautéed onion, garlic, and carrots, bloomed with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and a touch of cayenne before red lentils simmer away in vegetable broth until soft and creamy. A quick blend with an immersion blender gives you that perfect balance of silky body and hearty texture, while a finishing squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens every spoonful. The real showstopper is the smoky paprika oil drizzled on top right before serving, adding a gorgeous red swirl and a deep, toasty flavor that plays beautifully against the citrus. Scattered parsley and a lemon wedge on the side make it feel special enough for a dinner party, even though it's simple enough for a weeknight. It's a naturally plant-based, protein-packed bowl of comfort that fits easily into a vegetarian kitchen without any fuss.

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Ingredients

6 servings

3 tbsp olive oil
Filippo Berio Olive Oil 25.3 fl oz Filippo Berio Olive Oil 50.7 fl oz Bertolli Cooking Olive Oil 50.72 oz Pompeian Olive Oil Classic Mediterranean - 16 Fl. Oz.Vigo® 100% Pure Olive Oil
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1 large yellow onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 ½ cups red lentils, rinsed
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
½ tsp black pepper
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 ½ lemons)

For the paprika oil

2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp smoked paprika

For serving

¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 6–7 minutes.
2
Add the garlic and carrots and cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant and the carrots begin to soften, about 3 minutes.

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