Caramelized Onion Red Lentil (Printable)
Hearty vegetarian soup with sweet caramelized onions and protein-packed red lentils, spiced to perfection.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 2 medium carrots, diced
04 - 1 stalk celery, diced
→ Lentils & Staples
05 - 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed
06 - 6 cups vegetable broth
→ Spices & Seasonings
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 bay leaf
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1-1.5 teaspoons salt, to taste
→ Garnish
14 - Chopped fresh parsley
15 - Lemon wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions with a pinch of salt. Cook stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized.
02 - Add garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
03 - Stir in cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add rinsed red lentils and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes until lentils and vegetables are soft.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to partially or fully blend soup depending on preferred consistency.
06 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon juice if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The way caramelized onions transform simple lentils into something extraordinary
- Its one of those rare soups that tastes even better the next day
- Perfectly hearty without leaving you feeling weighed down
02 -
- The caramelization step cannot be rushed or skipped
- Red lentils cook faster than other varieties and don't need soaking
- Blending too much can make the texture gummy
03 -
- Make a double batch and freeze portions for busy weeks
- Use a timer for the onion caramelization