Caramelized Onion Red Lentil Soup (Printable Version)
A rich vegetarian soup featuring caramelized onions and red lentils with fragrant spices
# Ingredient List:
→ 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 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 bay leaf
09 - 1 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1–1.5 tsp salt, to taste
→ Garnish
14 - Chopped fresh parsley
15 - Lemon wedges
# Directions:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20–25 minutes until onions are 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 a simmer. Cook uncovered for 15–20 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are soft.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to blend soup partially or fully, depending on desired consistency.
06 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The caramelized onions create a depth of flavor that tastes like it simmered all day but comes together in under an hour
- Red lentils break down beautifully, making this naturally creamy without any dairy
02 -
- Resist the urge to turn up the heat when caramelizing the onions, low and slow prevents burning and develops the best flavor
- Rinse your lentils thoroughly until the water runs clear to remove any dust or debris that can make the soup taste gritty
03 -
- Use a wide pot rather than a tall narrow one so the onions have more surface area to caramelize evenly
- Stir the onions more frequently toward the end of cooking as the sugars can burn quickly once they start browning