Rating: 3.83
(121)

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
3.83 from 121 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
Tried this recipe?Mention @coolinarco or tag #coolinarco!
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 omega.murazik1992 says:

    4 stars
    Made it exactly as written—easy weeknight soup. The spices smell incredible while it cooks. Mine was a little thick after 25 minutes, so next time I’ll add a splash more broth.

  3. User avatar james.schultz31 says:

    3 stars
    Not bad, but I had to re-season at the end. Salt “to taste” is doing a lot of work there—mine was kind of bland until I added more. Other than that, solid and filling.

  4. User avatar gino.rath1999 says:

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

  5. 5 stars
    Made this last night—so cozy. The ginger really wakes everything up, and the lentils soften perfectly in the 20–25 minutes. I added a squeeze of lime at the end and it was next level.

  6. 5 stars
    Made this last night and it turned out so cozy. The coconut milk really rounds out the curry flavor—will definitely cook again!

    1. 5 stars
      Totally agree—coconut milk makes it taste super balanced and cozy. I love how it softens the curry heat.

  7. 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.

  8. User avatar jacqueline.kessler37 says:

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

  9. User avatar MAGA2024.Trumpster says:

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

  10. User avatar orlando.considine97 says:

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

  11. User avatar deandre.mccullough25 says:

    4 stars
    Not gonna lie, I was skeptical with “thumb-sized ginger” lol. Mine ended up maybe too much, but it was still delicious. Next time I’ll measure more carefully and add spinach at the end.

  12. 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? 😊

  13. 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!

  14. User avatar joye.schmidt26 says:

    5 stars
    I like soup. This one was good.

  15. User avatar darlene.waters2010 says:

    4 stars
    Pretty good! I added a squeeze of lime at the end and it made the whole thing pop. Next time I’ll use a bit less curry powder since mine was strong.

  16. User avatar ShanksOnePiece says:

    2 stars
    I don’t think it’s that great. My mom’s curry is way better. Too much coconut for my taste.

  17. User avatar joselyn.hagenes17 says:

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

  18. User avatar milo.welch7 says:

    2 stars
    Why do they call it curry? This is just soup with lentils, imo. Taste was ok but it’s not curry! Disappointed.

  19. 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? 🤔

  20. 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. 🤷‍♂️

  21. 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!

  22. User avatar rich.bogisich says:

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

  23. 2 stars
    I expected more from this recipe, was kinda bland even after adding spices. Maybe I did something wrong?

  24. User avatar jimmy.walter24 says:

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

  25. 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!

  26. User avatar Peregrin Took says:

    4 stars
    Simple and quick! Just the way I like my recipes. Can I substitute lentils with beans? Anyone tried?

  27. User avatar Prostetnic Vogon Kwaltz says:

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

  28. 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!

  29. 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!

  30. 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!

  31. 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.

  32. 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!

  33. 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.

  34. 5 stars
    This soup is absolutely delicious! Made it for dinner last night and my family loved it. Will definitely be making it again.

  35. User avatar lamar.boyle2011 says:

    4 stars
    Very easy to make! I substituted chickpeas for lentils and it worked well. Thanks for the recipe!

  36. User avatar clemencia.beahan says:

    2 stars
    Idk why but mine turned out kinda bland. I followed everything exactly… maybe my spices were old? I’ll try again with fresh curry powder and a pinch of chili flakes.

    1. User avatar jarred.koss says:

      5 stars
      I’ve had this happen too—red lentils can taste a bit “flat” if the seasoning isn’t punchy enough. Fresh curry powder helps, but don’t forget to taste near the end and add more salt/pepper (and maybe a squeeze of lime).

    2. 4 stars
      That’s weird. If you followed it exactly, bland usually means not enough curry or not enough salt. Also 1 tbsp curry powder can vary a lot by brand—mine was mild. Try adding chili flakes AND a bit more cumin/turmeric, but careful not to overdo.

  37. User avatar luigi.williamson77 says:

    3 stars
    I followed it exactly and it still tasted bland to me. I had to add extra salt + cumin and it came together. Not bad though.

  38. 5 stars
    Amazing! So creamy and delicious, perfect for dinner.

  39. 2 stars
    I tried to make it, but I didn’t have ginger. Used garlic instead and it was not so good. Is it supposed to taste like that? Help!

  40. User avatar kellye.durgan1951 says:

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

  41. User avatar maurice.schneider17 says:

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

  42. 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.

  43. User avatar rory.satterfield38 says:

    3 stars
    Ok but where is the heat?? 😅 I had to add chili flakes because it was too mild for my taste. Flavor is good otherwise.

  44. User avatar clarissa.sipes says:

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

  45. 3 stars
    I don’t know. It was okay but kinda bland for my taste. Maybe add more spices, I don’t know. 🤷‍♂️

  46. 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.

  47. User avatar isidro.funk2020 says:

    5 stars
    So good! My kids even liked it which is impressive. Definitely recommend for family dinners!

  48. 3 stars
    Not really a fan. It was too coconutty for my taste. Maybe less coconut milk next time?

  49. 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.

  50. 3 stars
    I thought it was okay, but a bit too coconutty for my taste.

  51. 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.

  52. User avatar wilfred.cartwright says:

    4 stars
    Pretty good, but I found it needed a lot more salt than the recipe suggests. Also, my curry powder was mild, so I bumped up the cumin a bit. Still, the flavor is balanced and not too heavy.

    1. 5 stars
      I totally get that—salt always seems to disappear in soups. Glad you got the balance right without making it heavy.

  53. User avatar Miss Harriette Dare says:

    5 stars
    This soup is AMAZING! The coconut milk gives it such a creamy texture. I added some lime juice at the end, and it was perfect. Definitely making this again!

  54. 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!

  55. User avatar buster.kihn55 says:

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

  56. 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! 💪

  57. User avatar liberal.hero says:

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

  58. User avatar max.collins27 says:

    3 stars
    I followed the steps but my lentils didn’t soften until way longer than 25 mins. Could be my stove or the lentils were older. The flavor was great once they finally cooked through.

    1. User avatar The Allitnils says:

      4 stars
      Ugh, that’s frustrating! Red lentils *usually* get soft faster, but older lentils or high altitude / weak simmer can definitely stretch the cook time. Glad it turned out flavorful in the end though.

  59. User avatar darla.lynch30 says:

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

  60. User avatar Zaphod Beeblebrox says:

    5 stars
    Tastes like a warm hug! ❤️

3.83 from 121 votes
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