Mexican Lentil Soup

Another soul-warming, flavorful lentil soup from my kitchen. This Mexican lentil soup is a flavorful, healthy soup for fall and winter. It is also perfect for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free soups loaded with lots of healthy veggies.

I love soups, especially lentil soups. Soups are comfort foods that not only save time but are also good for health. Who won't love these time-savers for busy weekday dinners? They're perfect for any occasion or any meal.

Lentils are an excellent source of proteins that will keep you full for longer. Try my Moroccan lentil soup, lentil taco meat.

Mexican Lentil Soup

This Mexican lentil soup is easy to make and loaded with lots of veggies and lentils. For this lentil soup, the best option is dehusked red lentils (whole brown lentils or green lentils).

This is a one-pot soup recipe. You can make it on the stovetop or in an instant pot. Cooking in an instant pot may save 10 - 15 minutes compared to stovetop cooking.

Vegetables, along with lentils, make this vegan Mexican soup insanely delicious as well as nutritious. This is one of the healthiest vegan soups for lazy weekday dinners.

This is a one-pot recipe that is very simple and easy to prepare. You can make the soup in a pot or Dutch oven on the stovetop, but this takes longer than the pressure cooking method.

I have prepared this in both a Dutch oven/ pot and a pressure cooker (manual/electric instant pot). The time spent cooking is different.

Ingredients for Mexican Lentil Soup

This is a simple recipe that doesn't require fancy items. You need lots of vegetables, lentils, vegetable broth, and basic spices.

Vegetables

The regular vegetables used in this soup are red and yellow bell peppers, carrots, green beans, celery stalks, corn, smoked tomatoes, onions, and garlic. If you don't find any of the ingredients, that's alright. Add any vegetables you have in your refrigerator.

Lentils

For Mexican lentil soup, we have to take whole brown lentils or green lentils. These are the best lentils, in fact, for any kind of lentil soup recipe. To make perfect Mexican lentil soup, you should soak the lentils for at least so that it will take less cooking time, and this will also inhibit overcooking of the vegetables.

Spices & Herbs

In this soup, basic spices are used that are available in every pantry: ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. You can also use fresh herbs like oregano instead of dried ones. For freshness in the soup, add fresh parsley or cilantro leaves.

Vegetable Broth/ Water

Broth adds a nice flavor to the soup. However, if you don't have it in hand, you can also add water. If adding broth, check if it has salt and add salt as per that. You can also substitute this with vegetable bouillon or broth powder.

How to make Mexican lentil soup?

Step 1: Soaking the lentils

This is the most important part. Rinse the lentils well and soak for 1 hour. Prep all vegetables. If not soaked, lentils may take a longer time, 40 - 45 minutes, to cook on the stovetop.

Step 2: Sautéing veggies & lentils

Next, heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pan. Saute celery, onion, and garlic for 2 - 3 minutes. Add carrots, bell peppers, and corn, and saute for 1 minute.

Next, add soaked lentils, followed by all spices and vegetable broth.

Step 3: Simmer & garnish -

Lastly, simmer for 25 - 30 minutes, covering with a lid. Cook until the lentils are a little soft.

Once lentils are cooked, garnish with lots of freshly chopped coriander leaves and a dash of lemon juice.

Why this Mexican lentil soup is so great?

• This lentil soup is packed with high protein and high fiber elements.
• Lots of added vegetables make this soup healthy and nutritious.
• This soup is easy to make and a quick recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to cook.
• This can be made ahead of time for the week's meal planning.
• It's nourishing, delicious, and plant-based.
• This is an easy one-pot meal that can be made on the stovetop, in an instant pot, or in a slow cooker.

More vegan soup recipes:

• Cream of mushroom soup
• Mix Veggies Soup
• Moroccan Lentil Soup
• Vegan Minestrone Soup
• Broccoli Mushroom Soup
• Roasted Pepper & Tomato Soup
• Potato Leek Soup

How to store leftover lentil soup?

Leftover lentil soup can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. If stored in a covered container, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 - 5 days.

Simply reheat when required. Reheat on the stovetop on low heat until warm or microwave for 30 - 60 seconds, stirring after each interval of 30 seconds until it's warm enough.

How to freeze Mexican Lentil Soup?

To store the lentil soup in the freezer, first make sure the soup is cooled down completely. Then, transfer it into a freezer container with a lid. Don't fill the container full, leave ½ inch container space for expansion of the liquids when frozen. You can freeze it for up to 2 months or even more. When you have to use it, thaw it before reheating.

What to serve with Mexican Lentil Soup?

Mexican Lentil soup can make a whole comfort meal. The high-protein lentils, along with nutrition-rich vegetables, make this a healthy yet filling soup. To make it rich and filling, you can add roasted tortilla chips/ stripes, diced avocado, and vegan cream cheese.

Recipe - Mexican Lentil Soup

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