Red Lentil Soup | Instant Pot + Stove Top Recipe (2024)

This hearty vegan creamy Red Lentil Soup recipe is not just good, it's also good for you, and very easy to make in your pressure cooker or on the stovetop. This easy Red Lentil Soup will have you making it again and again.

What Makes This Red Lentil Soup So Good?

• Fast. Have the ultimate filling dinner in less than 30 minutes.
• Easy. Made simple in your Instant Pot.
• Vegetarian. The perfect solution for your next Meatless Monday.
• Versatile. Add a variety of spices to change the flavor profile. I like to use anything from garam masla to Thai red curry.
• Delicious. The perfect Indian comfort food.

What Are Red Split Lentils?

As you may or may not know, there are a lot of different kinds of lentils. They all taste and cook quite differently, so it's important to know the difference. I have a great printable you can get for free that talks about that HERE.

Red lentils are the lentils that cook the fastest. They don't need to be soaked before cooking, and so are the most popular for soups and recipes.

For more info on how to cook beans and lentils in your pressure cooker, check out my guide on How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot!

Is Red Lentil Soup Good For You?

Lentils are high in fiber and several other vitamins and minerals. This is a vegan soup recipe, and lentils provide an excellent protein replacement for meat. Not only is this Red Lentil Soup recipe good for you, but it's also delicious and so easy to make.

Do You Need To Soak Red Lentils?

No. Unlike other pulses, lentils do not require soaking. Simply rinse and cook.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Olive oil
• Onion
• Carrots- Chopped into 1/2" cubes
• Celery- Coarsely chopped into bite sized pieces
• Garlic
• Canned Fire Roasted Tomatoes-
• Vegetable broth- Is the body of this lentil soup recipe.
• Split Red Lentils- These will need to be thoroughly rinsed before you cook them.
• Ground Cumin
• Dried Thyme
• Kosher Salt
• Ground Black Pepper
• Baby spinach-Coarsely chopped so you get a little bit of spinach in every bite.
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Heavy Cream- this can be omitted for a Vegan option

How To Make Red Lentil Soup In The Instant Pot

1. Select Browning/Saute and add the olive oil to thepressure cooking pot. When the oil is hot, add the onion,carrots, and celery. Saute for about 5 minutes until tender.
2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in thetomatoes, vegetable broth, water, lentils, cumin, thyme,salt, and pepper. Lock the lid in place. Select High Pressureand 10 minutes cook time.
3. When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes andfinish with a quick pressure release.
4. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Transfer 2 cupssoup to a large bowl. Use an immersion blender to pureethe soup in the pot until smooth. (You can also use astandard blender). Stir in the reserved soup, spinach, andred wine vinegar.
5. Select Simmer/Saute and cook for just afew minutes until the spinach wilts. Season with salt andpepper, if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and servewith a swirl of heavy cream.

How To Make It On The Stovetop

1. In a large pot, add in the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion,carrots, and celery. Saute for about 5 minutes until tender.
2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in thetomatoes, vegetable broth, water, lentils, cumin, thyme,salt, and pepper.
3. Cook on simmer for 20-25 minutes.
4. Transfer 2 cupssoup to a large bowl. Use an immersion blender to pureethe soup in the pot until smooth. (You can also use astandard blender). Stir in the reserved soup, spinach, andred wine vinegar.
5. Heat the burner back to medium/high heat and cook for just afew minutes until the spinach wilts. Season with salt andpepper, if needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and servewith a swirl of heavy cream.

How Long Does It Last?

This Instant Pot lentil soup will last 3-5 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator after it is made.

The longer it is stored, the softer the lentils and carrots become. Luckily, the intensity of the flavor of the broth is absorbed into the lentils the longer it sits. So while the texture may be slightly different after a few days, the depth of flavor only increases.

Want More Delicious Lentil Recipes?

• Instant Pot Lentil Soup
• Dal Makhani Creamy Lentils
• Instant Pot Moong Dal Soup
• Instant Pot Barley and Lentil Pilaf
• Beet Salad with Lentils

I can't wait for you to try this thick and hearty Red Lentil Soup recipe! It's such an easy lentil soup recipe, and will be a family favorite! If you love it as much as I do, please share this recipe with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can try it too.

Originally Published November 15, 2017

Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!

Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.