Easy 30-Minute Red Lentil Soup With Curry Yogurt Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated Aug. 29, 2018
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J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
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Recipe Facts

Active: 30 mins
Total: 30 mins
Serves: 4 to 6 servings

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Ingredients

  • For the Soup
  • 1 small carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
  • 6 scallions, white parts only, roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, split in half
  • 1-inch knob ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 jalapeño or Serrano chili, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
  • 1 pound red or yellow lentils
  • 1 1/2 quarts homemade or store-bought low sodium vegetable stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice from 2 lemons
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • For the Curry Yogurt
  • 1 cup non-fat Greek-style yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon Japanese or Madras curry powder

Directions

  1. Combine carrots, celery, scallions, garlic, ginger, and chili in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until very finely chopped, about 15 short pulses, scraping down bowl as necessary.

  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chopped vegetables and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and aromatic but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add lentils, chicken stock, and bay leaves. Simmer, stirring occasionally until lentils are fully tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

  3. While lentils cook, combine yogurt, cilantro, and curry powder in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small serving bowl.

  4. When lentils are cooked, remove and discard bay leaves. Working in two batches, purée soup in a blender, drizzling in remaining extra virgin olive oil while blender runs. Return soup to a pot, whisk in lemon juice, thin to desired consistency with water or stock, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve immediately, passing the curry yogurt and extra-virgin olive oil on the side.

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