Simmered Hidden Spice Lentil Soup

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

Earthy lentils simmered with hidden warming spices, creating a deeply aromatic bowl that reveals complexity with each spoonful. This middle eastern-inspired soups ready in about 40 minutes pairs brown lentils, carrots, celery stalks for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 290 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 brown lentils
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 yellow onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse lentils under cold water until water runs clear, then drain. Peel and dice carrots and celery into 1/4-inch pieces.
2. Step 2: Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and coriander seeds, toasting for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic; cook for 5 minutes until vegetables soften and onion is golden.
4. Step 4: Stir in rinsed lentils, chicken broth, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes until lentils are tender and flavors meld.