Name: Lentil Soup with Moroccan Spices
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 large onion, diced small; 3 cloves of garlic, minced; 1 tsp ground sweet paprika, you may also use smoked paprika; 1 tsp ground turmeric; 3/4 tsp ground Allspice; 1/2 tsp ground coriander; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1/4 tsp hot pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper (optional if you like a little heat); 2 cups brown lentils picked over and rinsed, you may also use green lentils (See Note); 8 cups veggie broth, veggie chicken broth or water; 1-2 tsp salt (See Note 3); 1 - 28 ounce can of small diced tomatoes, you may also use crushed tomatoes; 1/2 cup basmati, jasmine rice, or any rice you have on hand. (See note 2 if using brown or wild rice); Schug ( Optional)

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This easy Lentil Soup is filled with Moroccan spices, tomatoes, and rice for a hearty meal that has everyone coming back for seconds! Serve it with a simple salad or a loaf of crusty bread for the perfect weeknight meal.

Bird's eye view of a blue terra-cotta dish filled with lentil soup

You only need a few pantry ingredients and a bunch of spices to make this quick and easy lentil recipe. We love cooking with lentils, because they don't need to pre-soak. You can have a filling and comforting hot soup ready in less than an hour.

Are Lentils Good for You?

Yes! This is one of our favorite reasons to make lentils recipes--they pack a major nutritional punch. Lentils are a plant-based source of protein while being low in fat and high in fiber that will keep you full longer. Your body will thank you for including lentils in your meals!

An image that show 5 different types of lentils. Each type of lentil, black, green, pardon, red and brown are labeled

The Best Lentils to Use in Soup

Any type of lentils will work! There are so many different kinds of lentils to choose from that it can be overwhelming! Pretty much any lentils you find in the grocery store will work, although red lentils will result in a totally different kind of soup. Black, Pardina, or green lentils hold their shape better while cooking and we prefer them over regular brown lentils. Brown lentils have an earthier, mild flavor and are usually easier to find. They’re still a great option for this Mediterranean Lentil Soup! Just give pick and check your lentils for any debris and little stone and give them a good rinse. If you need more detailed information about lentils check out our Mujadara Post.

How Long to Cook Dry Lentils

One cup of lentils needs about 3-4 cups of water to cook, and depending on the type of lentils, plan on 25-40 minutes of cooking time. One cup of dry lentils makes about 2 ½ cups of cooked lentils. If you want to save a bit of time you can use canned lentils. Just rinse them before adding them in and reduce the simmering time! Dry lentils do not need to be soaked before adding them to soup or any other dish. Lentil do need to be picked over to take out any debris or small rocks.

Storing Lentil Soup

You can keep this easy lentil soup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The leftovers are absolutely delicious! It can also be frozen for up to six months and enjoyed whenever the craving hits.

Bird's eye view of lentils soup ingredients, labeled. Lentils, onions, diced tomatoes, rice, olive oil, and spices

Spices We Used in Our Moroccan Lentil Soup

We included some of our favorite spices to bring warmth and flavor to this easy lentil soup recipe!

Turmeric
Paprika
Coriander
Cumin
Black pepper
Cinnamon
Allspice

If you want to get adventurous with spices you could also add our garam masala, shawarma, or curry seasonings!

How to Make Lentil Soup From Scratch

We know that Lentil Soup isn’t the most exciting sounding meal in the world, but when it’s made right, you’ll be craving leftovers for lunch as soon as dinner is over! We start with a sauteed onion and garlic (along with any veggies that may take longer to cook, like carrots, celery, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash). Add in the lentils along with broth and spices. This gives the lentils time to soak up all the delicious flavors as they cook! Finish your soup with canned tomatoes and any quicker-cooking vegetables or grain you’d like (spinach, kale, swiss chard, rice, bulgur wheat, quinoa, ).

Side view of a blue terra-coat dish with lentil soup and a piece of bread sticking out of the soup

More Lentil Recipes You Must Try

DID YOU ENJOY OUR LENTIL SOUP RECIPE?

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