Diverse Languages Spiced Lentil Soup

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-15 · Updated 2026-04-15

A hearty soup with red lentils, cumin, and turmeric, simmered to creamy perfection. This general-inspired soups ready in about 45 minutes pairs red lentils, medium onion, medium carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 240 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 medium onion
• 1 medium carrot
• 2 stalks celery
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Step 1: Finely chop 1 medium onion, 1 medium carrot, 2 celery stalks, and 2 minced garlic cloves.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, cooking for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp cumin and 1/2 tsp turmeric, cooking for 30 seconds until very aromatic.
4. Step 4: Add 1 cup red lentils and 4 cups chicken broth, then bring to a boil.
5. Step 5: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes until lentils are tender and soup thickens.
6. Step 6: Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice and blend with an immersion blender until smooth (or transfer to a regular blender in batches).