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    Hummusapien » Recipes » Soups » Instant Pot Lentil Soup

    ★★★★★ from 19 reviews

    Instant Pot Lentil Soup

    Published Jan 4, 2021 · Modified Nov 13, 2021 · by Alexis Joseph · 42 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This cozy lentil soup made in the Instant Pot is a hearty, soul soothing lunch or dinner. Packed with plant protein and veggies! Stovetop option included.

    bowl of lentil soup with bread

    Welcome to the the innards of my lentil soup loving soul!!

    Is a steamy bowl of soup complete with a crusty hunk of bread not THE most comforting thing there ever was?

    Imagine slurping it down in fuzzy slippers while watching the second season of Dead to Me. Perhaps with a glass of red on the side. Ugh. Let's go there.

    This here cozy lentil soup has been a favorite here in the hummus household for quite some time. 'Tis the first soup I ever mastered.

    Amy's canned lentil soup kept me fed through college. Anyone else? It's so good in a pinch, with those precious little carrot cubes.

    This recipe is an ode to my Hearty Lentil, Kale, and Potato Soup from way back when in 2013, which I know many of you are quite fond of. As am I!

    I knew it had Instant Pot potential, since that machine is my absolute favorite for set it and forget it soups (this Mushroom Wild Rice Soup is a must). It's wonderful not having to check if the lentils are done. They're miraculously always done!

    Do yourself a favor and try this Instant Pot Pad Thai Stir Fry once your soup is gone, ok? Ok.

    instant pot with uncooked soup ingredientsHow to make Lentil Soup

    Herby, savory, and delightfully balanced, lentil soup couldn't be easier. In fact, you can whip it up in less than ten minutes flat. No need to soak the lentils beforehand!

    1. Rinse the lentils in a fine mesh sieve. Discard any rocks or funky looking debris that's not a lentil.
    2. Chop all your veggies and put everything in the Instant Pot except the spinach and lemon juice. Mushrooms, green beans, cauliflower, potatoes or sweet potatoes would all be yummy here as well.
    3. Cook soup on high pressure 12 minutes. The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure before it starts cooking.

    cooked lentil soup with wooden spoonStovetop instructions

    No Instant Pot? Have no fear! See the recipe notes for full-proof instructions on making this soup on the stove.

    1. Simply sauté in olive oil the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and salt in a dutch oven over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add broth, spices, lentils, water.
    2. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Add potatoes and simmer, covered, for 15 more minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
    3. Stir in greens and lemon juice, then devour.

    What kind of lentils to use?

    The best kind of lentils to use for this soup are green or brown lentils. I find them in the international aisle of the grocery store. Red lentils would be very mushy, but if you're into that texture and that's all you have on hand, go for it!

    Is cooking in the Instant Pot healthy?

    Yes! Did you know pressure cooking is one of the healthiest ways to cook since there’s less oil involved and nutrients aren’t being lost?

    The pressurized pot lowers the boiling point of water, so your food is rarely cooked at a temperature above 250 degrees. Lower temps means fewer nutrients lost, as does shorter cooking times. In fact, the Instant Pot cooks 50-70% faster than traditional cooking methods.

    Fun topping ideas

    I love drizzling my bowl of soup with a good glug of extra virgin olive oil for richness and then soaking up the brothy goodness with crusty bread. A simple green salad with apple cider vinegar dressing and perhaps a sprinkle of sumac, za'atar, or oregano would make a perfect side dish.

    A sprinkle of grated parmesan would also be delightful. Lemon slices or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar are also divine here.

    Tips for storing, reheating, and freezing

    Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and store the refrigerator for up to five days. I think this soup taste even better on day two!

    To reheat the soup, you can heat a portion in a small pot on the stove over medium low heat or quickly in the microwave.

    After a few days if you know you're not going to polish off the leftovers, you can freeze the soup by popping the container in the freezer for up to six months. Simply thaw the soup overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

    two bowls of lentil soup with lemonCraving more soup goodness? Don’t miss my other stellar soup recipes!

    • Vegan Cream of Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup
    • Yummiest Vegetable Soup
    • Healthy Salmon Corn Chowder
    • Golden French Lentil Soup
    • Lemon Chickpea Rice Soup
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    Instant Pot Lentil Soup

    ★★★★★ 5 from 19 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 12 minutes
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings 1x
    • Category: Soup
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Cuisine: Mediterannean
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This cozy lentil soup made in the Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker) is a hearty, soul soothing lunch or dinner. Packed with plant protein and veggies! Stovetop option included. Gluten free, vegan, and freezer friendly.


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 large onion, diced
    • 3 stalks of celery, diced (can sub fennel)
    • 3 carrots, diced
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 cup dry green or brown lentils, rinsed and picked over
    • 4 cups vegetables broth + 1 cup water
    • 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, to taste
    • ½ tsp cumin
    • ½ tsp coriander
    • 1 medium Russet or red potato, diced
    • 3 cups chopped greens (spinach, baby bok choy, chard)
    • 1-2 tbsp lemon juice or red wine vinegar, to taste
    • Freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Place all ingredients except spinach and lemon juice in the Instant Pot.
    2. Make sure the steam release valve is set to "sealing." Press manual or high pressure button and cook for 12 minutes. Note that it takes ~10 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure before it starts cooking and counting down. Once it’s done, carefully quick release any remaining steam using the valve on top. Remove the lid and turn the machine off.
    3. Stir in greens. Season with lemon juice or vinegar to brighten it up and taste, adjusting salt and pepper if needed. Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week.

    Notes

    STOVETOP: Sauté in 1 tbsp olive oil the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and salt in a dutch oven over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add spices, lentils, broth, and water. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Add potatoes and simmer, covered, for 15 more minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Proceed with step three.

    You can double the spices if you like spice, and I've also added ½ tsp turmeric and loved it!

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Liz says

      March 14, 2022 at 10:19 pm

      Tasty, healthy, cozy, easy -- basically all the best adjectives. Love the addition of potatoes!

      Reply
      • Liz says

        March 14, 2022 at 10:19 pm

        5 stars!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        March 15, 2022 at 11:40 am

        Heck yes, thanks Liz!!

        Reply
    2. imsen says

      February 03, 2022 at 1:09 pm

      This is the BEST lentil soup ever!! I literally make it once a week.

      Quick and Easy Family Recipes

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 07, 2022 at 7:20 pm

        Amazing, thanks a ton Imsen!!

        Reply
    3. Emily P says

      February 03, 2022 at 12:06 pm

      Super easy dinner! We almost always have all of these ingredients on hand, so it was really nice to have everything done quickly and using the Instapot made it even easier. Delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 07, 2022 at 7:21 pm

        Yayy!! truly the best pantry meal. Thanks for the sweet comment, Emily!

        Reply
    4. Maria says

      December 30, 2021 at 3:32 am

      I made the older stovetop version of this with kale way back when you first posted it years ago. I still love it just as much today as I did back then. Always a winner. Thanks so much Alexis!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 03, 2022 at 10:12 pm

        That version is so classic! Thanks, Maria.

        Reply
    5. Ingrid says

      December 06, 2021 at 1:36 am

      This soup is delicious! I have to admit, I wasn’t sure the lentils would be soft, but they were perfect! I added Braggs seasoning and blended a little of the soup for thickening. So easy! I’ll be making this again 👍🏼

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        December 06, 2021 at 11:02 am

        Love that you made it your own, thanks Ingrid!

        Reply
    6. Vincci says

      March 20, 2021 at 3:25 am

      Very easy to make and delicious! I sautéed the onion, celery, carrot and garlic before adding everything else to the Instant Pot.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        March 22, 2021 at 6:46 pm

        Fabulous! So glad you loved it!

        Reply
    7. Joanne says

      February 25, 2021 at 10:57 pm

      I have made a lot of lentil soup in my day, but this is by far the best! Even my husband, who professes not to be a lentil lover, thought it was great!! Glad to know that I can freeze it, but I doubt that I will ever have enough left over to freeze. I made my in the IP and it was done in a flash.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 26, 2021 at 5:41 pm

        You made my day! Thanks so much, Joanne!

        Reply
    8. Michelle says

      February 20, 2021 at 10:26 pm

      This is my new favorite soup recipe! It’s so easy, tasty, and healthy. I use the stovetop recipe since I don’t have an instapot. It’s even better after a day or two in the fridge, and makes for a quick, tasty leftover lunch during the week!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 24, 2021 at 4:52 pm

        I agree--so much better the next day. Thanks so much, Michelle!

        Reply
    9. Alana says

      February 19, 2021 at 7:40 pm

      Made it on the stove, super delicious and flavorful!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 24, 2021 at 4:53 pm

        Wonderful to hear, thanks a ton!

        Reply
    10. Heather says

      February 19, 2021 at 12:00 pm

      Made this soup this week and it was amazing!!! I used the stovetop directions and it was perfect. My son had 3 bowls! Already looking forward to eating it again.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 24, 2021 at 4:54 pm

        Perfecttttt!!!

        Reply
    11. Jodi says

      February 15, 2021 at 12:00 am

      This was the best instant pot lentil soup I’ve ever made. I followed the recipe as written using brown lentils and kale. I’ll definitely be making it again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 15, 2021 at 8:26 pm

        I'm thrilled to hear this, thanks a ton Jodi!

        Reply
    12. Amy D says

      January 19, 2021 at 12:37 am

      Loved this soup so much! It had so much flavor. Doubled the spices like you suggested for a little more heat. Will definitely be making it again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 19, 2021 at 6:58 pm

        Wonderful, thank you tons for letting me know this was a winner!

        Reply
    13. Megan says

      January 17, 2021 at 6:52 pm

      Love this recipe! Super quick and easy. Great for lunches for the week!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 18, 2021 at 1:36 am

        Amazing, thanks lady!!

        Reply
    14. Janelle says

      January 07, 2021 at 1:47 pm

      Made this and loved it! So easy and great with lemon at the end.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Kelli says

      January 06, 2021 at 4:30 am

      Made this tonight and it was so good! Thank you Alexa for the easy yummy recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 06, 2021 at 3:34 pm

        Awesome, so glad to hear it, Kelli!

        Reply
    16. Mallory says

      January 06, 2021 at 2:52 am

      Delicious, as always! Added a bit of both lemon juice (half of a lime) & red wine vinegar. Topped with Parmesan & nutritional yeast.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 06, 2021 at 3:35 pm

        Yessss all about the acid!!

        Reply
    17. Kathleen says

      January 06, 2021 at 2:33 am

      So easy & so good!! Perfect winter soup that doesn’t feel too heavy

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 06, 2021 at 3:35 pm

        Perfection. Thanks, Kathleen!

        Reply
    18. Sabine Kuhn says

      January 06, 2021 at 1:21 am

      I made it on the stovetop. Will definitely make it again.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 06, 2021 at 3:35 pm

        Fab! Thanks a ton for letting me know, Sabine!

        Reply
    19. Maggie says

      January 04, 2021 at 8:13 pm

      Just made this for my freezer stock as I prepare for baby. Will be perfect for healthy and easy lunches. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 05, 2021 at 4:27 pm

        Wonderful, thanks for the feedback Maggie! If you'd be up for leaving a star rating with your comment next time, I'd be so grateful! It helps others find my recipes 🙂 Thanks again!

        Reply
      • Chamron Brown says

        January 05, 2021 at 5:59 pm

        This soup is the best lentil soup I've made...so far! 👍 I did add one cup of chopped mushroom and I used kale as the green veggie. Also I put a scoop of cooked quinoa into my bowl when serving. Yummm. Thanks Alexis for all your wonderful recipes my family and I love em!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Alexis Joseph says

          January 05, 2021 at 6:02 pm

          Yayyy thank you so much, Chamron! You made my day 🙂

          Reply
    20. Dylan says

      January 04, 2021 at 12:12 pm

      Yummm! I've been making this soup for years and it never gets old! Love the Instant Pot version 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 05, 2021 at 4:27 pm

        I agree--it does not get old! Thanks, Dylan!!

        Reply

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