Spicy Red Lentil Soup

This Spicy Red Lentil Soup recipe is great for everyone including vegetarians and vegans! It is super quick, easy, low-fat and full of fiber and protein. We had a similar soup at a pitch-in a few years back and it was absolutely delicious. We decided to recreate it this past Saturday so we had a healthy meal while decorating Halloween cookies. Unexpectedly, the weather was chilly and rainy so it was the perfect complement to the day. We made sure to write the recipe down so you could have it too!

Don't let the spice scare you! While it's a little on the spicy side, our friend Christin (who doesn’t do spicy foods) still enjoyed it with some sour cream! Plus, you can use 1/2 of the amount of Sriracha in the recipe to start with and add more to taste.

Speaking of sour cream, we love topping the soup with a variety of ingredients. We listed some of our go to toppings and accompaniments at the end of the recipe.

We hope you’ll serve up a pot on a chilly fall or winter night and if you make the full batch, there will be plenty to give away or freeze for another time. Please leave a comment if you make it and let us know how you enjoyed it!

Spicy Lentil Soup Recipe

Note: This recipe makes a big batch of soup! Cut the recipe in half if you're not looking to feed a small crowd!

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25-40 minutes Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

4 TBS oil (vegetable, olive, or your favorite cooking oil)

2 cups yellow onion, chopped

2 cups carrots, chopped

½ cup celery, finely chopped

2 ½ TBS minced garlic

2 TBS smoked paprika

3 TBS + 1 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp. black pepper

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. salt

3 bay leaves

4 TBS tomato paste

½ cup Sriracha

3-14.5 oz. cans petite diced tomatoes

16 cups chicken or vegetable stock

2lb red lentils, sorted and rinsed

Garnishes* see notes below

Directions

Pre-Prep: Examine, sort, and rinse lentils. Wash and chop all vegetables. Mince garlic. Measure and combine seasonings.

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic and sauté for approximately 6-8 minutes until vegetables are tender.

To the vegetables add the smoked paprika, cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, salt, bay leaves, tomato paste, and sriracha and stir until combined.

Next, add the petite diced tomatoes and stock and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the red lentils and simmer uncovered for 25-40 minutes or until lentils are soft and soup is thickened.

Serve with your favorite toppings and accompaniments. We have some of our suggestions below!

Topping Suggestions

Tortilla Chips

Jalapenos

Limes

Cilantro

Sour Cream

Cheese

Red Salsa

Tomatillo Salsa

Olives

Sriracha

Hot Sauce

Green Onions

Avocado

Accompaniments

Quesadillas

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Turkey, Ham, Cheddar and Dijon Sandwiches

Crusty French Bread

Jalapeno Cornbread

Garden Salad

Chicken Wraps

Having a chili party but serving vegetarians or vegans? Serve this soup! We have an amazing Bacon Chili Recipe in our fall cookbook! Check it out!

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