How to Make Easy Red Lentil Soup with North African Spices

Test cook Erin McMurrer uncovers the secrets to the ultimate Red Lentil Soup with North African Spices.

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[confusedwhale]

2 tbsp butter
1 large onion

1/4 black pepper
1/4 grind ginger
Pinch cayenne
1/8 cinnamon
3/4 coriander
1/2 cumin

1 tbsp tomato paste
1 glove garlic

4 cups chicken broth
2 cup water

1.5 cups lentils

2 tbsp Limon juice

2 tbsp butter
1.5 teaspoon Mint
1 teaspoon Paprika

[a.g.]

I'm north African, this recipe is usually vegan, we add carrots for taste and color. Some people add potatoes for thickness. On the spices, we add turmeric, black pepper, cumin and coriander, ginger and cayenne are okay to add to preference, we don't add cinnamon though. The topping sounds more turkish than North African.

[tinamartin]

I just made this soup, 3x the recipe, so so so good! I made vegetable broth from scratch instead of chicken broth too, topped it with olive oil with mint and paprika instead of butter, some nigella seeds and pumpkin seeds. Served with French baguette. Everyone loved it, a must try! ❤️

[angelatruly]

This was delicious. Thanks to some comments below as it really helped. 1. I had an herbal mint tea. Chopped the mint and lemongrass w/i bag. 2. Added minced carrot before adding onions. I only had a red onion and it worked. 3. I did use 1/2 butter y 1/2 evoo 4. Added pinch of kosher salt and sq of lemon into paprika mix 5. Topped with sprinkle of parmesan 6. Served with garlic bread

Did I mix some cultures? Probably but it is called 'I want to make this now without running to grocery store'. It was very tasty!!

[nikumeru]

Here in Greece we use whole lentils for soup, lots of onion, garlic, bay leaf, oregano, tomato passata, vegetable broth, salt, pepper, olive oil, served with a chunk of feta, and some rustic bread, tastes like heaven!

[tad]

i made this yesterday and it's delicious. i decided to purée mine for an even creamier texture. i also served it with a dollop of yogurt and some olives. very comforting soup!

[gregperez]

I’m 67. I’ve hated lentils all my life. My mother made them when I was a kid. I hated the flavor so much that I would wait until she wasn’t looking, then I would wrap them in a napkin and stuff them in my pockets so I could throw them away later. Imagine my surprise, while visiting Turkey. Lentil soup is served in most restaurants. I reluctantly tried it. To my shock, they were absolutely delicious. I ordered and ate it a few more times. When I go back home I intend to make my own lentil soup.

[saras]

This is so good! I use vegetable broth instead of chicken and olive oil instead of butter for the garnish. I've made it a few times and it's always delicious.

[AlyenasKitchen]

Thank you for telling us about the red lentils and how they have their skins removed. Love how you share your knowledge as you cook! Cooking this tonight and am so excited to try it. Thank you so much! You ladies are great together!🌼🌷😊

[lailiakadaisy]

I got this recipe from the America's Test Kitchen Mediterranean cook book and it is a favorite in this house. In fact, it's what I'm making for dinner tonight!

[dawntoy]

Hello that really is a lovely recipe I wrote it down as it was being said because usually the quantities aren’t given so I just praise God that this lady actually said the quantities and I have just made this soup but triple the quantity because I don’t cook small thank you again for a beautiful recipe

[djokicmetamora]

When I lived in southern Macedonia, (now called North Macedonia) we used the garnish you made over toasted bread. Similar to Italian garlic bread.Also I didn't want to open a can of tomato paste for a tablespoon, so I put in a tomato I already had. Amazing. If you are out of mint, its the same stuff in the tea bags.

[nezzyt]

I LOVE lentils! This soup looks simple but so delicious. Can't wait to try this recipe!! Thanks!

[ClariceAust]

Erin covered everything in her great presentation of this soup; what a great soup!

[noahjuanjuneau]

You omitted one important step: RINSE those lentils thoroughly before adding to the pot.
Rinse until they no longer have that foamy stuff on them… at least a minute.
Always rinse lentils before cooking.
You’re welcome.

[maylien]

I’ve made this at least a dozen times. So Easy and Delicious! I do cook it longer though 25 minutes) and stick blend it smooth. Thanks So much!

[DailyJAB]

This turned out so good. The mint/paprika butter was delicious it I loved it.

[eyoussef]

I made this tonight. It's so easy to make and so delicious. I will not be ordering lentil soup again.
Thank you so much.

[arronferguson]

I just tried this. I added fresh, finely chopped sage and some left over Thanksgiving turkey for some body. It is amazing. Thanks for sharing this.

[kh]

This looks just the ticket as the cooler months approach. A little spicy kick is right up my street, and I love your 'test, tweak, and test again' principle. Red lentils seem so exotic in recipes like this—it surprised me to learn that most are grown in Saskatchewan.