One-Pot Curried Lentil and Coconut Soup

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-10 · Updated 2026-06-10

A comforting, creamy lentil soup simmered with fragrant curry spices and rich coconut milk, perfect for an easy weeknight meal. This Indian-inspired vegan recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs red lentils, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 310 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 rinsed red lentils
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 1 large, peeled and diced carrot
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 wedges for serving lime wedges

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 1 diced large carrot; sauté for 6 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger, 2 tbsp curry powder, and 1/2 tsp ground turmeric; cook for 1 minute until spices are fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup rinsed red lentils, 4 cups vegetable broth, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until lentils are tender.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 cup full-fat coconut milk and simmer for another 5 minutes until soup is creamy and well blended.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat, stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over individual bowls.