Rating: 3.68
(75)

Coconut Curry Lentil Soup

September 16, 2023

Coconut curry lentil soup is one of those comforting meals that manages to be both nourishing and deeply flavorful. It brings together the creaminess of coconut milk, the warmth of curry spices, and the hearty texture of lentils to create a dish that feels like a hug in a bowl. Whether you’re looking for a cozy dinner or a make-ahead lunch, this soup fits the bill perfectly.

At the heart of the dish are red lentils, which cook quickly and become tender without needing to be soaked. As they simmer, they break down slightly and give the soup a naturally thick texture. The base usually starts with sautéed onions, garlic, and ginger, which build a strong aromatic foundation. Then come the curry spices, typically a mix of curry powder, cumin, and a bit of turmeric, which infuse the soup with a deep, earthy warmth.

What sets this soup apart is the addition of full-fat coconut milk. It adds a rich, velvety finish and balances the heat from the spices with its subtle sweetness. Depending on your preference, you can keep it mild or add a kick with some chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce. Many versions also include vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, or spinach, adding extra nutrients and flavor.

Coconut curry lentil soup is also incredibly easy to make in one pot, and it’s forgiving if you need to substitute ingredients. Don’t have fresh ginger? Use powdered. Missing carrots? Toss in some diced bell peppers or kale. It’s the kind of recipe that welcomes improvisation.

This soup is naturally vegan and gluten-free, which makes it a great choice for a wide range of diets. It stores well, freezes beautifully, and tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen. Pair it with some warm naan, rice, or a crisp salad, and you’ve got a satisfying meal that works year-round.

In short, coconut curry lentil soup is simple, comforting, and full of bold flavors. It’s the perfect blend of convenience and deliciousness.

So why wait? Gather your ingredients and get ready to prepare this delightful Coconut Curry Lentil Soup. With its creamy coconut milk and aromatic curry spices, it’s the ultimate comfort food that will leave you craving for more. Share it with your loved ones or savor it all for yourself – either way, this soup is sure to become a favorite in your household. Bon appétit!

Coconut Curry Lentil Soup
Coconut Curry Lentil Soup
3.68 from 75 votes
A delicious and hearty lentil soup infused with coconut milk and curry spices.
Servings 4 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 thumb-sized piece ginger grated
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 cup red lentils rinsed
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 can coconut milk 14 ounces
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • cilantro for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Cook until the onion is translucent.
  • Add the diced carrots and red bell pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the curry powder, cumin, and turmeric. Stir to coat the vegetables with the spices.
  • Add the rinsed red lentils, vegetable broth, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the lentils are soft.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Serve the soup hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 12gFat: 8gFiber: 9g
Calories: 300kcal
Meal Type: Soup
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: black lentil, curry, Lentil Soup
Cooking Method: Boiled
Time: 30-45 Min
Level: Easy
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Join the Conversation
  1. User avatar dannie.maggio says:

    4 stars
    This recipe is for vegetarians only, right? Can’t imagine meat in this.

    1. 5 stars
      Yes, it’s definitely vegetarian! Just the veggies and lentils here, no meat involved.

    2. User avatar gabriel.stoltenberg says:

      2 stars
      I dunno, I think meat could be good in this. Might try it with chicken next time.

  2. User avatar gino.rath1999 says:

    5 stars
    Can’t believe I made this! I’m not much of a cook. 😄

  3. User avatar alton.hamill1995 says:

    2 stars
    I didn’t have red lentils, so I used green lentils… turned out weird. Not sure if I did it right.

  4. User avatar jacqueline.kessler37 says:

    5 stars
    This was a hit with my family! I added some chicken for extra protein 🙂

  5. User avatar MAGA2024.Trumpster says:

    4 stars
    I didn’t have red lentils, used green ones instead, worked fine. Still tasted good!

  6. User avatar orlando.considine97 says:

    4 stars
    Coconut and curry together? Never thought of it! But it does taste good. Kinda weird tho.

  7. 4 stars
    Good soup, but took longer than 25 minutes to cook the lentils. Had to let it simmer more.

    1. User avatar Genghis Khan says:

      3 stars
      Hmm, I cooked mine just like the recipe said and it was fine. Maybe your pot is too small or something?

    2. User avatar joesph.blick48 says:

      4 stars
      I agree! Lentils always seem to take longer than expected. Maybe next time try soaking them first? 😊

  8. User avatar Arwen Evenstar says:

    5 stars
    Yum!

    1. User avatar adelaida.stroman says:

      5 stars
      Totally agree! This soup is so comforting and delicious!

  9. User avatar joye.schmidt26 says:

    5 stars
    I like soup. This one was good.

  10. User avatar joselyn.hagenes17 says:

    2 stars
    Not a fan, way too much coconut milk for me. Made it kinda sweet.

  11. 5 stars
    Super easy to make! My kids loved it. Will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing!

    1. User avatar shon.boyle says:

      5 stars
      So glad to hear that! It’s a hit in my house too. What do your kids usually like to eat?

    2. User avatar joetta.mcglynn69 says:

      3 stars
      I tried this, but it turned out watery. Maybe too much broth? 🤔

  12. User avatar twana.king says:

    3 stars
    What do you mean by thumb-sized? That’s not a measurement lol.

    1. User avatar jayson.harvey19 says:

      3 stars
      I dunno, but thumb size sounds kinda silly to me. Just use as much ginger as you like! Who needs exact measurements? 😜

    2. 4 stars
      I guess it’s a bit of a weird measurement, but I think they’re just suggesting a piece of ginger that’s about the size of your thumb. 🤷‍♂️

  13. User avatar marvin.ohara2015 says:

    3 stars
    I didn’t have red lentils, so I used green ones instead. It turned out way too mushy. Stick to the recipe, folks!

  14. User avatar rich.bogisich says:

    3 stars
    The lentils were too mushy for my taste, maybe I cooked them too long? Overall okay tho.

  15. 2 stars
    I expected more from this recipe, was kinda bland even after adding spices. Maybe I did something wrong?

  16. User avatar jimmy.walter24 says:

    2 stars
    Easy to make but kinda bland. Needs something…maybe garlic powder or extra spice? Idk.

  17. User avatar jacquline.willms86 says:

    4 stars
    I love lentils. It taste good, but I added some chicken for extra protein. It’s like now a meat curry! 😂

    1. User avatar Serina Bednar says:

      4 stars
      Adding chicken sounds interesting! I’ve never thought of doing that with lentils. Gonna try it your way next time!

  18. User avatar Prostetnic Vogon Kwaltz says:

    3 stars
    Smelled good while cooking but felt like it was missing something. Could be better.

  19. 4 stars
    Had this for lunch today. Quick and easy but I didn’t have red lentils, so I used green ones. Still turned out good I guess.

    1. User avatar lionel.crooks10 says:

      4 stars
      Green lentils work too! Glad it still turned out good for you. Sometimes recipes can be flexible!

  20. User avatar oren.nolan88 says:

    5 stars
    This soup is AMAZING! So creamy and flavorful. I added a bit of lime juice for a kick. Definitely making again!

  21. User avatar Suzann Prohaska II says:

    4 stars
    Very tasty! I added some chicken for more protein. Not vegan anymore but whatever!

    1. User avatar zachary.runte says:

      5 stars
      Sounds delicious! Adding chicken is a great idea for protein. I might try that next time!

  22. User avatar halflife4 says:

    3 stars
    Is it really necessary to add so many spices? I just used curry powder and it was good enough.

  23. User avatar benito.gleichner1976 says:

    5 stars
    Yum!!! 🥥🥣

    1. 5 stars
      This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it. 🤤

    2. User avatar luella.glover says:

      3 stars
      Coconut and lentils? Sounds kinda weird to me. But hey, maybe I’m just missing out!

  24. User avatar doretha.hill1979 says:

    3 stars
    ehh, it was okay. I thought it would be spicy but it wasn’t. Not sure I’d make it again.

  25. 5 stars
    This soup is absolutely delicious! Made it for dinner last night and my family loved it. Will definitely be making it again.

  26. 5 stars
    Amazing! So creamy and delicious, perfect for dinner.

  27. User avatar kellye.durgan1951 says:

    2 stars
    Can you make this without coconut? I don’t like it. Would it still be good?

  28. User avatar maurice.schneider17 says:

    5 stars
    This soup is amazing! I love how creamy it is and the spices are just right.

  29. User avatar charisse.johns2024 says:

    5 stars
    This soup is amazing! The flavors are so rich and comforting. I made it last night and it’s already my new favorite recipe.

  30. User avatar clarissa.sipes says:

    3 stars
    Why do youuse red lentils? I prefer green. Is it the same? 🤔

  31. User avatar bob.fay1965 says:

    5 stars
    I give it a 5! Perfect for a cold day, I added some chili flakes for a kick.

  32. 3 stars
    Not really a fan. It was too coconutty for my taste. Maybe less coconut milk next time?

  33. User avatar lupe.glover says:

    4 stars
    Mmm, coconut!!! Love everything about it but it took longer than 25 mins. Maybe I chopped slow lol.

  34. 3 stars
    I thought it was okay, but a bit too coconutty for my taste.

  35. 4 stars
    Super easy to make! I love recipes like this. Thanks for sharing!

    1. User avatar Faye Kinnitt says:

      3 stars
      Looks good but is coconut milk really necessary? Seems like adding fat for no reason.

    2. 5 stars
      Agreed! It’s so simple but tastes amazing! I never thought I’d love lentils this much.

  36. User avatar russ.swaniawski says:

    1 star
    Nah, I rather stick to chicken soup. This seems kinda weird.

    1. 4 stars
      I get that! Chicken soup is a classic. But you might be surprised how tasty this coconut curry lentil soup can be! It’s really comforting too.

    2. User avatar rosalyn.gusikowski26 says:

      5 stars
      Weird? Nah! It’s actually delicious! Just try it once, lol. Curry and coconut milk are super good together!

  37. User avatar buster.kihn55 says:

    4 stars
    Didn’t have red lentils so I used green ones. Still tasted great!

  38. User avatar julius.armstrong49 says:

    2 stars
    Soup was too watery for me, needed more lentils. yo!

    1. User avatar oPandariaNo says:

      4 stars
      Yeah, I felt the same way! I added an extra cup of lentils and it was so much better! 💪

  39. User avatar liberal.hero says:

    5 stars
    This soup was amazing! Perfect for a cold day. So warm and flavorful.

  40. User avatar darla.lynch30 says:

    4 stars
    Super easy to make, I loved it! My kids even ate it! Will make again.

  41. User avatar Zaphod Beeblebrox says:

    5 stars
    Tastes like a warm hug! ❤️

  42. User avatar rossana.gerlach78 says:

    5 stars
    This soup is absolutely delicious! The flavors are on point!

  43. 1 star
    Coconut milk in vegetable soup? No thanks! I stick with chicken broth.

  44. User avatar CTRLplusW says:

    1 star
    Curry soup??? What’s next? This isn’t real food.

  45. User avatar oPandariaNo says:

    3 stars
    Really simple instructions. I messed it up but still taste okay! 🤷‍♀️

  46. User avatar Feral Falmer says:

    5 stars
    Yum!! I didn’t have fresh cilantro so I used parsley. Still good!

  47. 1 star
    I make curry all the time but it never tastes like this, what am I doin wrong?

  48. User avatar susan.brakus says:

    2 stars
    I don’t know. It seems like too many spices. Will my kids even eat this? They are picky.

  49. 3 stars
    I tried this recipe, but I think I added too much curry powder. It was a bit overpowering.

  50. User avatar Miss Marinda Metz says:

    4 stars
    I’m vegan, so I appreciate the coconut milk! But maybe could use more spices?

    1. User avatar The Allitnils says:

      2 stars
      I don’t think you need more spices… it’s curry soup, not fire soup! Seems good to me.

    2. 4 stars
      I totally agree! A bit more kick would make it even better. Maybe some chili flakes?

  51. User avatar cassandra.white says:

    2 stars
    I dunno about putting coconut in soup. Sounds weird and didn’t like it.

  52. User avatar Tarra Windler says:

    4 stars
    So easy to make! I was skeptical about the coconut milk, but it really adds a nice creaminess. Thumbs up!

  53. User avatar harland.monahan82 says:

    5 stars
    Easy and cheap to make! Gonna make again for sure!

  54. User avatar mae.kozey54 says:

    4 stars
    Delicious and filling! I added some chili flakes for an extra kick. Yum!

3.68 from 75 votes
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