Lebanese Lentil Soup
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.Rich, flavorful, easy Lebanese lentil soup (shorbet adas) is warming and hearty, perfect for a family-friendly weeknight meal. Made with red lentils, vegetables, spices, and lemon juice, this easy dish is healthy, vegan, and naturally gluten free too!
This authentic Lebanese lentil soup is one of my favorite recipes to make when I need an easy, filling, healthy meal. I love using lentils in all sorts of recipes because they’re a healthy, protein and fiber rich, plant based staple that can be transformed in so many different ways!
You can add them to salads (like this feta salad with veggies & lentils), use them as a meat replacement like in this vegan bolognese or this vegan wellington, add them to curries and dahls like this chickpea and lentil curry, and even turn them into veggie burger patties like in these lentil burgers!
But one of the easiest ways to use lentils is to add them to soup. This Lebanese soup recipe is also called “shorbet adas” or “shorbat adas” – which literally translates to “soup lentil”.
Serve this simple soup all on its own, or with homemade vegan flatbread, pita bread, or some crusty bread like this vegan air fryer garlic bread for dipping, with a side salad like this tomato avocado and cucumber salad for some brightness, or with some vegan roasted potatoes for a hearty side!
It’s full of flavor, super filling, comforting and perfect for the whole family. It’s also great for meal prep, so you can make a big big pot of this Mediterranean lentil soup and freeze half for later!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Smooth texture
- Vegan & gluten free
- Hearty soup, super satisfying
- Family friendly
- One pot meal
- Requires just a handful of ingredients
- Great way to get a ton of plant protein in one meal
- Best Lebanese lentil soup recipe ever!
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🥘 Ingredients
This shorbet adas recipe requires pantry staples that are easily found at your local grocery store! Here’s what you need:
- Veggies & Olive Oil: Yellow onion, carrots and potatoes add flavor, texture, and heartiness to this tasty soup. You’ll need olive oil to get the veggies nice and caramelized before you add the lentils.
- Red Lentils & Vegetable Broth: Red split lentils make up the base of this delicious soup! They cook down really quickly and easily, and are a great source of protein. You’ll also need vegetable broth (or stock) to simmer the soup in. Check out my easy red lentils recipe.
- Spice Blend: A blend of ground cumin powder, salt, black pepper, turmeric, and fresh lemon juice add big flavor to this Arabic lentil soup recipe.
🔪 Instructions
Lebanese red lentil soup is super easy to make! Here’s how to make this adas soup recipe.
Prep & Saute Onions: Wash the lentils in a strainer until the water runs clean, drain and set aside. In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the oil and sauté the onion over medium heat until softened.
Add Veggies: Add the carrot and potatoes. Continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously.
Add Rest Of Ingredients: Add all remaining ingredients, except the lemon. Stir and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
Blend: Remove from heat and allow this adas bi hamod to cool slightly before blending to avoid burning yourself. Using an immersion blender or high speed blender, blend this vegan lentil soup until smooth and creamy.
Serve: Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve this Lebanese lentil and potato soup with a squeeze of lemon juice.
💭 Expert Tips
- Make sure to wash your lentils! Washing the lentils before cooking helps to remove and dirt or debris.
- To prevent sticking, make sure to stir your soup throughout the cooking process so the lentils don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- An immersion blender (or hand blender) is easier to use to blend the soup, but you can use a regular blender if you don’t have an immersion blender. Just make sure to blend the soup in batches and once it has cooled to avoid splatter.
- You don’t need to soak your lentils: Red lentils don’t need to be soaked prior to cooking, however, they do need to be rinsed and removed of any stones or debris. If you choose to use a different type of lentil in this recipe, you will need to soak them to reduce overall cooking time. Different types of lentils require different cooking times. Red and yellow lentils need less cooking time than green lentils and brown lentils.
- Adjust texture as needed: Feel free to blend all or just half of this crushed lentil soup depending on your desired consistency. For a thick soup, blend only half so you get a thicker, chunkier texture.
📖 Variations
- Lebanese Lentil Soup With Rice: Feel free to add 1/2-1 cup of cooked white rice, brown rice, or even quinoa to the soup once it’s cooked and blended for added texture, and to turn this into a complete meal (lentils + rice make a complete plant based protein!).
- Different Veggies: We used onions, carrots and potatoes, but you can try sweet potatoes, cauliflower, butternut squash, or even bell peppers!
- Lebanese Lentil And Spinach Soup: For more veggies, you can add some leafy greens into this recipe for Lebanese lentil soup! You can add it at the same time as you add the lentils if you want the greens to get super cooked down, or you can add it 5 minutes before cooking is over for a brighter green color. Try baby spinach, swiss chard, kale, or your favorite leafy green veggie.
- Garnishes: Try fresh cilantro, fresh parsley, Greek yogurt or plain vegan yogurt, feta cheese or vegan feta, or even crumbled pita chips!
- Spices: Add some more heat to this vegetarian lentil soup with some crushed red pepper flakes, more black pepper, or even a pinch of cayenne pepper.
❓Recipe FAQs
Is lentil soup healthy?
Yes! This soup is super healthy for you for a few reasons:
#1 | High in Plant Protein & Fiber: Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein, making this soup a healthy, hearty, filling meal. Fiber is important for your daily diet as it helps with digestion, helps with the growth of healthy gut bacteria, and keeps you feeling fuller longer. One serving of this Lebanese crushed lentil soup recipe has 13 grams of protein and 16 grams of dietary fiber!
#2 | Low in Fat and Calories: Lentils, vegetables, and spices are naturally low in calories and fat. The fat that is in this soup comes from the oil the vegetables are sautéd in. You can further reduce the oil by eliminating the oil and using vegetable stock or water to sauté the vegetables.
#3 | Rich in Vitamins and Nutrients: Lentils and veggies are both packed with nutrition. Lentils are particularly high in phytochemicals that help protect the body against numerous chronic conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, antioxidants and B vitamins, and potatoes are packed with Vitamin C and potassium!
What makes lentils taste better? Why is my lentil soup bland?
There are only two things you need to make lentils taste better: salt and spices! Lentils are pretty mild in flavor, so they will take on the flavor of whatever you pair them with. Use plenty of salt and black pepper to taste when making lentils. In this recipe, the additional warm spices like turmeric and cumin will add tons of flavor to your Lebanese lemon lentil soup recipe!
How many calories are in a bowl of lentil soup?
Typically, 1 medium sized bowl of traditional lentil soup contains anywhere from 150-300 calories. This Middle Eastern lentil soup recipe has about 280 calories per serving!
What goes best with lentil soup?
This vegan Lebanese lentil soup with lemon goes best with some whole grain pita chips to give it some added crunch, texture and heartiness. You can also add a dollop of yogurt for an element of creaminess and coolness, and fresh herbs for brightness as well.
How to store vegetarian lentil soup?
You can store leftover lentil soup in the fridge or the freezer.
To Store In The Fridge: Let the soup cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and place in the fridge. It will keep for up to 5 days.
To Store In The Freezer: Let the soup cool completely. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and place in the freezer. It will keep for up to 2-3 months. To reheat from frozen – thaw frozen soup in the fridge for 24 hours. Then heat in a pot over low heat until warmed through, or warm in the microwave.
🍲 More Healthy Soup Recipes!
- Moroccan Chickpea Soup
- Vegan Spaghetti Squash Soup
- Tuscan Bean Stew
- Vegan Mushroom And Wild Rice Soup
- Butternut Squash Bisque
- Tomato Soup Using Canned Tomatoes
- Crock Pot Yellow Dal
- Italian Chickpea Soup
- Acorn Squash Bisque
- Garbanzo Bean Soup
- Carrot Potato Soup
- Thai Sweet Potato Soup
- 41 Vegan Soup Recipes
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Lebanese Lentil Soup
Rich, flavorful, easy Lebanese lentil soup (shorbet adas) is warming and hearty, perfect for a family-friendly weeknight meal. Made with red lentils, vegetables, spices, and lemon juice, this easy dish is healthy, vegan, and naturally gluten free too!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 284kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 carrot peeled and roughly diced
- 2 potato peeled and roughly diced
- 1½ cups red lentils
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 8 cups vegetable stock
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Wash the lentils in a strainer until the water runs clean, drain and set aside.
- In a large pot heat the oil and sauté the onion until softened.
- Add the carrot and potatoes. Continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Add all remaining ingredients, except the lemon.
- Stir and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before blending to avoid burning yourself.
- Using an immersion blender or high speed blender, blend until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
- Washing the lentils before cooking helps to remove and dirt or debris.
- Cooking the vegetables before adding remaining ingredients helps to intensify the flavors.
- Always stir through out the cooking process to prevent the lentils from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Left over soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Soup can be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Defrost frozen soup in the fridge for 24hours. To reheat, place in a pot over a low heat and bring to a gentle simmer.
Nutrition
Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1463mg | Potassium: 800mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2390IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 4mg
This was EXCELLENT! I have been looking for a tasty, thick easy-to-make lentil soup. This is it!!!
Yay!! So glad you liked this recipe Jane! It’s one of my favorites!!
I like your posts. They are unique. Recently I had bought some organic lentils from organic garden. I think I am surely going to cook this
Thanks so much Megha! Enjoy!
This dish is amazing! Full of flavor and hits the spot! Thanks!
Awesome! So happy to hear that Vanisha!
I love lentils. this recipe looks simple and easy. I am going to try this. I will go easy on the curry powder, can’t eat too much spices.
I’m sure you’ll love this recipe Michele! And yes absolutely, you can adjust the spices based on your taste preferences. Enjoy!
This was delicious! I had never cooked with lentils before, and this was a wonderful hearty soup that lasted me all week.
Oh great!! I’m so glad to hear that Katie! I love cooking with lentils – they’re super easy to prepare and so good for you!
Just made this soup for the second time-I love it and it’s so easy and fast! Thank you for the recipe!
Oh awesome!! So glad you liked it Julie!
Anjali,
I have been a big fan of your blog for a while now and have tried a bunch of recipes – my husband and I are big fans of healthy eater and I LOVE the flavor profiles in your recipes!!! We tried this soup last night and we were both floored by how delicious it was!! Keep the great recipes coming – I love your food!!
Maura
Awwwww thank you so much Maura!! Your comment made my day 🙂 I’m so glad both you and your husband are enjoying my recipes!! This soup is one of my favorites!
This looks great. I’m traveling though and want to make dinner for hosts. Do you supposed I could sub TJ curry sauce for garum masala? Don’t have spices with me. Thanks!
Hi Wenny! So this recipe doesn’t have garam masala in it, so if you don’t have that ingredient it should be fine 🙂 The TJ’s curry powder is pretty essential to this recipe, but you don’t need curry powder from TJ’s – you can get it from any grocery store. I definitely wouldn’t recommend using the TJ’s curry sauce in this recipe because it will change both the consistency and flavor of the soup! Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
I just got back from a trip to India. This looks great! I kind of miss curry 🙂 I think my wife will also enjoy this as she loves lentil soup. Thanks for providing the recipe!
Hi Scott! This recipe will definitely remind you of India 🙂 You’ll have to let me know how you and your wife like it!
Looking forward to it! 😉
🙂
Gosh that looks so good, going to try and make this next week.
Thanks Tate!! Can’t wait to hear how you liked it!
Hi! I’m making this delicious looking recipe right now, but noticed in the picture of your ingredients you have cumin instead of cayenne pepper. Should I be using cumin or cayenne pepper?
Hi Emily! Oh my gosh – good catch! You should be using cayenne pepper – not cumin. Looks like I accidentally put the wrong spice bottle in the picture. Thanks for asking – and enjoy the soup!
It was phenomenal!! Thank you! 🙂
Awesome!! I’m so happy to hear that Emily!
Looks delish!
Thanks Evelyn! I’m sure you’ll love this recipe!
This recipe looks super yummy – I always have those TJ’s lentils on hand. Question though – I love curry flavor. But I find that when recipes call for a certain amount, I always have to double the amount. Do you think its the type of curry I have? Or just my tastebuds? I have the McCormick brand curry.
Hi Maria! That is a great question. It could absolutely be the type of curry powder you have. The one I use is from Trader Joe’s – and it has the perfect blend of spices and heat. Whole Foods has some great options too. My experience has been that some of the more commercial curry powders are much milder to accommodate more taste preferences. So I’d suggest getting a blend from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or your local health food store and try that instead! Let me know how it turns out!
Yum yum yum. Lentil soup is my absolute favorite ever since trying it at a local Middle Eastern restaurant about 7 years ago (I can’t believe I deprived myself from this amazing soup for over 20 years before trying it).
Can’t wait to try this recipe and add it to my ever-increasing rolodex of lentil soup recipes. Sounds easy and delicious.
Thanks so much Scott! I’m sure you will love this recipe!!
I have to admit I never like lentil, until recently. I went to an Indian buffet place where they serve lentil soup just like this recipe and I was in love. This is so perfect a lovely dinner dish. Yum!
Hi Linda! You know what’s funny – I think Indian-spiced lentils are my favorite kind too. Probably because the spices just add such a great flavor to the lentils. I can’t wait to hear how you like this recipe and if it passes your lentil soup taste test! 🙂
Are you okay with using canola oil, then? I’ve heard so many times that it’s bad for you, esp. when heated.
Hi Magdalen! That is a great question. Canola oil actually has a medium-high smoke point – so it’s great for sautéing (vs. extra virgin olive oil which has a low smoke point and is better as a finishing oil). As long as the canola oil is organic/non GMO, I’m fine with using it. Also – canola oil is a good source of monounsaturated fats, the kind that can help reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease. Canola is the richest cooking-oil source of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fat that has been linked to heart health. If you don’t want to use canola oil, grapeseed oil is a great alternative for cooking (it also has a high smoke point), or you can use non-extra-virgin olive oil (which is better for cooking than extra virgin). Hope that helps!
I just made this recipe and sautéed with organic coconut oil as an alternative & it came out great!
That’s a great substitute! I’m sure it added wonderful flavor to the soup too 🙂 Thanks for sharing Cristina!