Carrot and Lentil Soup

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This easy carrot and lentil soup combines hearty lentils with tender, sweet carrots. It’s thick, nourishing, and delicious.

An economical, protein-packed meal the whole family will love!

Close-up of a white bowl full of carrot lentil soup.

Let me start by saying this recipe might be your new favorite soup. I’ve made it twice this week, and it was a huge hit.

It’s everything you could want in a warming bowl of soup: comforting, nutritious, and almost embarrassingly easy to make with a few pantry staples in about 35 minutes.

I love the combination of the ingredients: the lentils bring tons of plant-based protein and texture, while the soft carrots release their sweet flavor and are great to fill you up without weighing you down.

The result is so rich, filling, yet light.

Make a big batch and freeze some for later, or serve it with crusty panini bread, warm focaccia, or stovetop croutons. This is soup heaven during the cold winter nights! 

List of the ingredients

  • Green or brown lentils
  • Carrots
  • Vegetable broth
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Spices (paprika, cumin)
  • Herbs (thyme, bay leaf, parsley)
  • Tomato paste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt & pepper
  • Lemon juice
Top view of the ingredients to make this carrot and lentil soup.

How to make carrot lentil soup

(Note: this is a quick description; the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

  • Sauté the diced onion in olive oil until soft.
  • Add the garlic and spices, and cook for about 1 minute.
  • Toss in carrots and lentils.
Top view of a Duch oven full of the ingredients to make the carrot and lentil soup.
  • Add broth, herbs, tomato paste, and seasoning.
  • Cook for about 25-30 minutes until lentils and carrots are soft.
  • Stir in onion powder and lemon juice.
  • Optional step: for a creamier texture, let it cool slightly, blend 2 cups of the carrot lentil soup until smooth, and add it back to the pot.
Top view of a blender that blend part of the lentil carrot soup.
  • Taste, adjust the seasoning if desired, and finish with fresh chopped parsley.
  • Serve with easy golden croutons, crusty bread, or warm focaccia. Enjoy!
Top view of a white Dutch oven full of carrot lentil soup over a white background.

Recipe Notes

Carrot lentil soup ingredients

Onion & garlic: The recipe starts with a flavor base of onion, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. This is a crucial step in building the flavor.
I also love adding onion powder at the end of the cooking time to enhance the soup’s sweetness.

Lentils: Dried brown or green lentils are fine for this lentil carrot soup, but make sure to rinse and drain them well before using them in this recipe. 

Carrots: We need one pound of healthy, convenient carrots.

Herbs: Bay leaf and dried thyme infuse the broth, and fresh parsley is added for its fresh aroma.

Spices: The combination of paprika and cumin works well with lentils and makes the broth flavourful.

Tomato paste: A touch of tomato paste for richness and depth of flavor. 

Broth: The recipe uses low-sodium vegetable broth, but you can use your favorite broth. Adjust the seasoning accordingly since some broth can be pretty salty.

Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice is essential to brighten up and balance the flavor.

Salt & pepper: Make sure you adjust the seasoning before serving.

Look below at how rich and delicious this is?!

Top view of a white bowl full of carrot lentil soup.

How to store leftovers

This carrot and lentil soup keeps well in the fridge for about 3-4 days and freezes beautifully. I suggest dividing the soup into single portions, cooling it completely in the refrigerator overnight, and then transferring it to the freezer. 
I use this type of glass containers to freeze every soup and sauce!

Close-up of a white bowl full of carrot lentil soup.

If you love carrots…

You might want to check out these delicious recipes featuring convenient, versatile carrots:

Lentil soup recipes you’ll love!

If you’re looking for more delicious ways to eat lentils, these collections of 25+ lentil recipes and 25+ green lentil recipes are perfect for you!

Let me know if you make this carrot and lentil soup or have any questions! Leave a comment, send me a message, or rate it. I would love to hear from you! x

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Close-up of a white bowl full of carrot lentil soup.
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Carrot and Lentil Soup

This nourishing, comforting carrot lentil soup combines hearty lentils and tender carrots with their wonderful sweet flavor. It's SO delicious! It's a wonderful protein-packed meal the whole family will love!
Serving 4 o to 6.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: vegan
Keyword: Lentil carrot soup
Servings: 6
Calories: 225kcal
Author: Katia

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium-sized onion, chopped (any color)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb (450 grams) carrots, sliced or cubed
  • 1 ⅓ cup (250 grams) green or brown lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 (1.5 l) low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon fine salt, to taste
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
  • 3 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, reducing the heat to low as needed.
  • Add the garlic, paprika, and cumin and cook, stirring, until fragrant for about 1 minute.
  • Add the carrots, lentils, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaf, broth, 1 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook until the lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Turn the heat off, stir in lemon juice and onion powder, and if the soup is too thick, stir in some water or broth to reach the desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your taste with extra salt, pepper, or more lemon juice if desired.
  • An optional step for a creamier texture is to let the soup cool slightly, then transfer about 2 cups to a blender. Puree until smooth, then return the pureed soup to the pot and stir until combined.
  • Finish with fresh chopped parsley, and serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (optional), and plenty of crusty bread for dunking or croutons.

Notes

Storage tip: This carrot and lentil soup keeps well in the fridge for about 3-4 days and freezes beautifully.
Nutrition facts: the nutrition values are for one serving and they are based on an online nutrition calculator. It’s an estimate only and it should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my disclosure policies.

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 680mg | Potassium: 746mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 12885IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4mg

10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    What a winter banger! This soup recipe has brought warmth to our rainy day. Thanks Katia

    1. Thanks for sharing your lovely feedback, Anderson! : )

  2. 5 stars
    Easy to make, flavorful, and very satisfying on a cold winter day.

    1. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it, Toby! Thanks for rating the recipe. : )

  3. Toby Sedgwick says:

    Looking forward to trying this recipe this week! I assume its 6 cups of veggie broth which is approximately equivalent to 1.5 liters.

    1. Yes, indeed. The recipe says 6 cups (1.5 l). x

  4. 5 stars
    I followed this recipe exactly and my husband and I loved it! He said “definitely keep this one”, and I will be making this on a regular basis. Thank you!

    1. Thanks so much for sharing, Jennifer! I’m so pleased you guys loved this recipe. x

  5. 5 stars
    This was an easy recipe to make and it was delicious; I did add celery. I made a big green salad and it paired well with the soup.

    1. Fantastic, I’m very pleased it was delicious! Thanks for sharing, Ivette. x

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