photos in this post courtesy of An Unrefined Vegan
After my sister in law made this soup for our family one night, I fell in love with it! This is a variation on her recipe. I could make this hearty and comforting dish weekly (and sometimes do). It’s simple and bursting with vibrant and fresh flavors. You can cook it up on the stove top or throw everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer all day. Either way is easy and delicious, especially when you have good company.
Moroccan Lentil Soup
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 heaped t. ground coriander
- 2 heaped t. ground cumin
- 1 t. turmeric
- 1 t. smoked paprika
- 1 t. cinnamon
- 1 t. dried ginger
- 1 t. sea salt
- 1/2 t. ground black pepper
- 6 -8 C. vegetable broth (I used 6 in the pictured recipe, but sometimes increase it for a less stew like soup)
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 2 C. dry red lentils, rinsed and picked over
- 1/2 C. chopped parsley
- 1/2 C. chopped cilantro
- Juice of one lemon
Method: Water saute the onion, carrot and garlic. Add seasonings when onion is translucent and saute for a few minutes more. Add all other ingredients except last 3 and simmer on stove-top for 30 minutes in large saucepan or in crock-pot on low for 6-8 hours. For texture variation you can pulse it a few times with a stick blender. Add lemon, parsley and cilantro just before serving. For extra brightness, squeeze an additional slice of lemon over each bowl.
Looks great. Was going to make lentil soup today, anyway. Think I’ll throw in some cilantro. Thanks for reminding me of this great herb!
Cilantro and lentils were made for each other
Mmmm… Love the flavors of this soup. I add garbanzo beans to mine to expand the textures. So warming!
Garbanzo beans sound like a great addition, can’t beat the extra fiber and protein they offer either
This looks delicious Somer! I wanted to make a soup tonight, and this one will be lovely. I love red lentils.
Here’s a question for all of you: What exactly makes a dish Moroccan? How is different than an Indian curry dish? I see this same combination of spices in other Middle Eastern and Indian dishes, and I’m just curious what the difference is.
To be honest with you, I’m not quite sure what the difference is. Only that my sister in law called it Moroccan Lentil Soup
I hope you adore it as much as I do! xx
This soup sounds absolutely wonderful! I am having a friend over for lunch this week and I had planned to make another soup – but this one has it hands’ down! Can’t wait to taste it. Thank you so much for all the wonderful, flavorful inspirations here! Kristina
I had Annie from An Unrefined Vegan over for lunch last time I made this (hence, her taking photos) I think we both wanted to lick our bowls. I hope you and your friend enjoy it as much as we did!
Lots of times it’s the cinnamon that makes something Moroccan…just an FYI.
Oh, interesting. I made the African Peanut Stew on this blog this weekend and it has cinnamon too, I wonder if these dishes are really served in the nations we “borrow” them from sometimes or if we Americanize them
either way, I love creating lovely ethnic type foods in my kitchen.
Lentil soup, in any form, is my favorite. How are you Somer? I feel like I haven’t heard from you.
Glad we’re on the same page
I’ve actually been quite sick
I’ve got a rotten cold that’s lingered past the 2 week mark. Doing all sorts of things to kick it and I think I’m finally on the mend, but not quite there. I’ve heard other vegans say they don’t get sick, but I think after years of taking drugs that suppress the immune system for an autoimmune disorder, my system is still on the mend.
I’ll stop by your site and say hello in a minute!
I feel your pain, it I’m into my 2nd week with some sort of bronchial plague.
I have been taking a supplement called AHCC which really knocked down my cold, and I believe helped remedy my bronchial thing. I was able to run last week with only minor breathlessness.
And I’m in agreement with you, since having cancer, my immune system has never quite been the same. How could it be.
Oh girl, your totally right, those drugs destroy our immune systems. You’ve been through much more than I have. It’s a good thing we’ve both got great diets to fight off death’s door. I’ll check out that supplement, thanks for your recommendation. I just realized you’re not appearing in my reader, no wonder you haven’t seen me around. I’ll remedy that now
It’s the reason I became a vegan — well one of.
Yay reader!
Me too babe!
Wonderful, Somer! You know that this is totally up my street! Yummy!
I thought you’d like this one
I can’t get enough of it.
In the slow cooker right now….thanks!
No way! I hope you enjoy it! xx
You’ve got me hooked on this soup! I think the lemon juice finish is what really makes it.
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it so much! I love the lemon splash at the end. So good!
This soup looks great. I love lentil soup, so I’ll have to make this.
Give it a go! I swear you won’t be disappointed
Dinner tonight! Thanks!
Bam! Love it, I’m thinking this may be crock pot dinner for me as well. xx
I just love one bowl meals. This looks fantastic and simple! The cilantro and parsley must give the soup a nice fresh pop
They really do make the dish pop!
ooooooooo i love morrocan flavours, this looks delish!
Thanks Alexander, I imagine you all ready make some killer rendition of this dish!
Somer, this looks wildly satisfying! Delicious, and with all my favorite spices!!
It’s right up your alley Anne! I wish I could share a bowl with you!
I think I’ll make this after I’m finished eating my chili. Thanks for posting!
Great idea, and you’re welcome!
Mmmm, that sounds and looks delicious. This is definitely on my ‘to do ASAP’ list! X
You’ll have to let me know how you like it! It’s my favorite soup of all.
This would be just the thing for dinner on a chilly evening! Looks so hearty and warming and full of flavour!
Exactly! And it’s perfect for your sugar free kick, you could halve the recipe, This one feeds a crowd
A million years ago in college (okay, like 15 or 20 years ago…) I worked at a vegetarian cafe called “One World” in Kentucky, and we made a very similar Moroccan lentil soup. Only difference – ours had diced dried apricots. So good. Customers used to call it “orgasm soup.” Can’t wait to try your version, too!!!
Holy apricots! No wonder it got it’s nickname! I might just have to try that! Thanks Rissa!
I love lentil soup but have never made with with all the warm spices you have listed here! I need to make this sooner rather than later, like possibly tonight with some quinoa thrown in!
Oh, quinoa would be fantastic! I’ve been loving amaranth lately too, it’s like baby quinoa, it’s so cute it makes me squeal!
love this! i’ve been needing something new to use Lentils in!
You won’t be disappointed
Looks great!! I will be making a batch of this as soon as I can get to the store. Thanks!!
Let me know what you think!
Can’t go wrong with lentil soup, and I think I have most of the ingredients knocking round my cupboard……! Second the idea that some chickpeas (garbanzos) would be a good addition.
I know right, I love pantry dishes that come together quickly. I’m really liking the chickpea idea too. One can never have too many chickpeas…
Love lentil soup! Make red lentil soup weekly and also green lentil soup with sweet potatos! Delicious! Yours looks great and perfect for cold weather too!
Oh wow, I’m really liking the idea of sweet potatoes in the green lentil soup. I don’t think lentils get enough credit! I think you and I need a lentil love affair. Made lentil tacos last night. To die for!
I like Moroccan anything – and I love that this is easy to make. I’m all about the easy. Bookmarked.
I hope you get around to it! One pot meals are my saving grace on weeknights. Bonus that the kids like this one too.
Yum!!!!!! This is my kind of soup. I made spincah stew last week and it had the same spices!!!!
Oh wow, that sounds fantastic. I’ll bet I could throw a whole head of spinach in this and no one around here would even notice (I get sneaky with greens!)
So much flavor in such a humble legume. Yum!!!
I know, right!?
Yum! Perfect for this time of year
Exactly!
i can eat lentil soups and stews everyday..:) i love the spices and flavors in this. all that cilantro and parsley.. mm mmm
I thought you’d like this one! You probably have a much tastier version
I love home-made lentil soups a lot & yours, Somer looks so appetizing, comforting & fab!
Thanks Sophie! It really hits the spot!
Your soup looks wonderful! I love the spices you have used – so warming and fragrant. Yummy!
Thank you! It really is yummy, warming, fragrant and wonderful!
I had to check and see what kind of lentils you had used but I kind of already knew because of the delicious appearance of the dish…red lentils are I are old friends…any other kind (aside from those that blend to the “pea” variety) are NOT my friend. I once spent a fortune on Puy lentils…little french black things that I tried…and hated…and because they were so expensive I tried to sprout them…and hated them…so they sit in my pantry looking French, black and sultry (a bit like David Bowies wife…) and uneaten. I might have to toss them into my vitamix dry goblet and render them “flour” thus taking away their heinousness and their moth attracting abilities and rendering them full of possiblities…Puy lentil bound patties anyone?
You poor thing, I don’t discriminate against any lentils, but yes, I think they puy ones would do nicely as a veggie burger binder.
This looks perfect to warm up after a cold day outside running! I love lentils. I will eat them any way I can get them. Even cold, standing with the fridge door open and spoon in hand. I’ve never tried cilantro and lentils together, sounds like I’ve been missing out!
Just finished a run in the rain! Wishing I had this to heat me up! You are totally missing out, cilantro and lentils are where it’s at!
Yum!
Mmmm…I love Moroccan flavours. I used to be good friends with a chef from Morocco and he taught me a whole bunch of neat dishes. This soup would make him proud! 
Yay! I don’t even know if it’s authentic, but it sure is delicious!
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Your welcome! Am going to try your Moroccan Lentil Soup soon… I just love it
Yay! I hope you do really love it when you make it! It’s my favorite.
Oh, this sounds so delicious! I basically make the same lentil soup recipe again and again. I need to branch out! This would be so warming and perfect today.
Oh, you’ve gotta try something new. I love a traditional lentil soup with the brown or green levels, but this dish is really something special without any more effort.
This looks amazing, Somer! I need more lentils in my life.
xo
kittee
Oh thanks Kittee! Lentils are my favorite, I made lentil tacos the other night on corn tortillas and they were to die for! Hope you are all recovered now.
xx
Somer
You can never have too many lentil soup recipes. I’ll have to make this when the weather gets cooler down here in Australia
Exactly! Lentil soups are incredible and versatile. In the meantime enjoy your sunshine, we’ve got snow
I’m having it right now and it’s delicious! Thanks for posting!
Yes! I love hearing when people make my recipes with success. This is hands down my favorite soup! xx
I made this last night. it was incredible. I do have to admit that I added some thai chilis to it though. I wanted some punch. Thanks for the wonderful recipe, we’ll be making it again for sure.
Thai Chili’s would be fantastic! So glad you made this and then let me know. I love hearing when people actually make my stuff and enjoy it. It makes my day!
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I could totally eat it for breakfast too! Yum! Thanks for sharing the link!
-Somer
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We make something very similar, eat lentils of some kind nearly every day (don’t have to pre-soak, always a problem for forgetful me).
I agree with you — cilantro (coriander) and lentils just go together!
They’re so lovely. I could eat them everyday as well. I really loved the lentil tacos I made from the Happy Herbivore review I just did. Just pulse your lentils in the food processor and add your favorite taco seasonings. So good. But with cilantro in this soup is even better.
A big bowl of lentil soup and some crusty bread sounds so good right now! Great recipe, Somer!
Thanks! It’s one of my all time favorites!
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Enjoy the Moroccan Lentil soup, it’s one of my favorites as well!
Hi Somer,
We eat this soup tonight and it was really good ! Even my daughters loved it ! Thanks !
Thanks Didie! It’s very yummy and wholesome
Hello, really excited to get some ingredients and make this sensational soup. Could someone please tell me what is t. is it teaspoon or tablespoon. Thanks
t. = teaspoon. T. =’s tablespoon