Indian Lentil Soup Recipe with Apples {Vegan, Gluten-Free} (2024)

Last Updated on By Vicky 33 Comments

Print Recipe Jump to Recipe

Indian Lentil soup – simply the most incredible lentil soup ever. Made with red lentils and the addition of apple to take things to the next level. Gluten-Free and Vegan.

Get My Weekly Meal Plan Plus My FREE GF/DF Avocado Recipes Ebook.

Coming across a winning soup recipe is like winning a mini lottery to me. My eyes lit up and I could skip and dance with joy.

No joke.

You know how much I love soups with my recent posts proclaiming my love for creamy vegan zucchini soup, creamy pumpkin soup, creamy broccoli soup, you name it.

Especially since I just recently got my lower wisdom teeth removed I have an even deeper appreciation now for soup. If not for creamy soups I simply would have starved during my week on a strictly liquid diet.

While I always fantasized about committing to a 2 or 3 day juice cleanse I can now with full honesty say I would never be able to complete it. Even with my wisdom teeth removed and not being able to eat solid food I could not survive on juice or smoothies alone.

I would be flat out starving. To the point that I thought I might just faint if I didn’t have some sustenance.

Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration.

But seriously, I do not know how people can go on the juice cleanses or water fasts. Definitely absolutely for surenot for me.

Creamy soup diet though, that I could handle.

And that’s exactly how I was able to make it through the liquid wisdom teeth diet.

With lots and lots of creamy dreamy soup.

And this one right here, this vegan Indian lentil soup recipe is the ultimate winner. I rarely mix and match fruit and veggies. I like to keep them separate.

Fruit by itself or with sweets and veggies/lentils with the rest of the savory ingredients in their own category.

When I saw this Indian lentil soup recipe though Iknew I needed to make it asap. Red lentilsandapples together inone recipe? Um yes, absolutely need to try this outimmediately.I was intrigued and I had to see how this was going to turn out. I mean who has thought to put red lentils and apples together in one recipe?

And just as I suspected it was simply the best soup evaa. You won’t even be able to tell there are apples in the soup. They just add a soft creamy mushiness to the mix and really compliment the vibrant red lentils very well.

With the various spices and coconut milk, this vegan Indian lentil soup with apples is perfectly spiced and just the aromas themselves will have you drooling for me. Now this is far from an authentic Indian lentil soup recipe – I highly doubt that one has apples in it, but I felt that with all of the spices that I was using I could safely title this as an Indian lentil soup recipe.

Seriously, this Indian lentil soup is my new favorite soup recipe. Make a large batch as soon as possible. You won’t regret it.

Oh and the red lentils are so cute themselves. Smaller than the other lentils and cook faster too.

You can puree the Indian lentil soup in a blender or leave it chunky as is. I actually prefer it chunky – I love the mix of all the different ingredients coming together and love taking a small bite into the apples and lentils.

I’ll leave that one up to you though. Let me know which way you prefer?

Indian Lentil Soup Recipe with Apples {Vegan, Gluten-Free} (3)

Exclusive Bonus: Download 25 of my all time favorite vegan and gluten free recipes.

Looking for more soup inspiration? Check out these recipes:

  • Vegan Thai Lentil Rice Soup {GF, DF}
  • Split Pea Soup {GF, DF}
  • 10 Gluten Free Vegan Soup Recipes
  • Vegan Chili with Squash{GF, DF}

How to make my Indian lentil soup

4.55 from 11 votes

Indian Lentil Soup Recipe with Apples {Vegan, Gluten-Free} (4)

Print

Indian Lentil Soup {Gluten-Free}

Prep Time

10 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Simply the most incredible Indian lentil soup ever. Made with red lentils and the addition of apple to take things to the next level. Gluten-Free and Vegan.

Course:Lunch, Soup

Cuisine:gluten free, Healthy, Indian, Vegan

Servings: 6

Calories: 335 kcal

Author: Vicky Berman

Ingredients

  • 1tablespoonolive oil
  • 1red chilidiced
  • 2carrotspeeled and diced
  • 2onionsdiced
  • 2applespeeled and diced
  • 6clovesgarlicminced
  • 1tablespoonsminced ginger
  • 1tablespooncumin
  • 1teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
  • 2teaspoonturmeric
  • 1teaspoonsalt
  • 1teaspoondried coriander
  • 1 1/2cupred lentils
  • 6-7cupsvegetable broth
  • 1cupcoconut milk

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium to high heat and add the chili, carrots, and onions. Cook for about a few minutes until softened.. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute or until aromatic.

  2. Add the apples, ginger, cumin, red pepper flaked, turmeric, salt and coriander.

  3. Add the lentils and vegetable broth. Mix and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes or until the lentil become soft. Mix occasionally.

  4. Once the lentils are cooked add the coconut milk bring to a boil and remove from heat.

  5. Optional - use and immersion blender or blender to make the soup smooth and creamy.

Recipe Notes

Recipe Adapted from Eat Good 4 Life

Nutrition Facts

Indian Lentil Soup {Gluten-Free}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 335Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Sodium 1355mg59%

Potassium 767mg22%

Carbohydrates 47g16%

Fiber 16g67%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 13g26%

Vitamin A 4030IU81%

Vitamin C 21mg25%

Calcium 66mg7%

Iron 5.9mg33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Indian Lentil Soup Recipe with Apples {Vegan, Gluten-Free} (2024)

FAQs

Does lentil soup contain gluten? ›

Lentils are naturally gluten-free. They are recommended for people with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders. However, like oats, they appear to be at a heightened risk of cross contact with gluten-containing grains.

Why does my lentil soup taste bland? ›

Not adding any aromatics to the pot.

Add aromatics to the water or, even better, use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water. Follow this tip: Add a few cloves of garlic, a bay leaf, a spring of rosemary, half of an onion, or a combination of these aromatics to the cooking water or stock to help flavor the lentils.

Why is my lentil soup not thick? ›

Cook It Longer

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

Do lentils thicken a broth? ›

You'll find that the lentils mostly breakdown and naturally thicken the soup. But what I like to do to get a really luscious creamy texture is to give the soup a quick whizz with a blender stick (or transfer a couple of cups to the blender) to puree SOME but not all the lentils.

What gluten-free flour is best for soup? ›

White rice flour: fine wheat substitute

Made from finely milled white rice, rice flour is a great substitute for wheat flour. It works very well as a thickening agent because it prevents liquid separation – it is particularly good for soups, gravies and sauces but can also work for cakes, cookies and crackers.

Is all basmati rice gluten-free? ›

There are many individual varieties of rice that fall into these categories, such as basmati, jasmine, and Texmati. All are gluten-free, but generally, whole-grain rice is more nutritious. The bran layers are rich in: Minerals.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating lentil soup? ›

Another reason that lentils are known for causing gas and bloating is because they are high in what's called raffinose. Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO) are known to cause stomach discomfort and bloating because the human body lacks the enzyme required to break them down within the digestive tract.

Why do I feel nauseous after lentil soup? ›

Lentils are frequently cooked with strong spices, which can cause indigestion in some people. Lentils are a good source of potassium, however, too many lentils in the diet can cause hyperkalemia (symptoms may include vomiting, fatigue, irregular heartbeat and difficulty breathing) in people with poor kidney function.

Is lentil soup hard on your stomach? ›

Many people experience digestive discomfort after consuming lentils because they are rich in fiber. Consuming too much fiber can lead to symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation and other digestive issues. Since fiber-rich foods like lentils cause gas, increase your consumption of them slowly.

Why did my lentil soup turn black? ›

the color change you've observed is from oxidation. If you want to prevent this, lay some plastic wrap over the surface of your lentils to prevent air from getting to them, or add some acid, like lime juice, to the recipe.

How do you fix bland lentil soup? ›

To avoid a bland lentil soup, use a flavorful broth—whether that's homemade or store-bought chicken or vegetable broth. The other key is building flavor. To do so, use aromatics like onions and garlic, include fresh or dried herbs, and season well with salt and pepper.

What is the white foam on lentil soup? ›

That means the foam will typically appear when making meat-based broths and, to a lesser degree, soups made from high-protein vegetables such as chickpeas and lentils. When those coagulated proteins cluster together, they can create air pockets, which is what causes the “sudsy bubbles,” says Trout.

Do you rinse lentils before making soup? ›

The other good news: Lentils don't need to soak as beans do (though you do need to sort and rinse them before cooking). Different types of lentils cook in different amounts of time. Red lentils are the fastest cooking and they dissolve as they cook and make for a smooth soup.

Do I need to rinse lentils for soup? ›

Lentils do not require it but can be soaked in order to reduce cooking time by about half. Before cooking, rinse lentils in cold water, pick over to remove debris or shrivelled lentils, then drain.

What if I put too much water in my lentil soup? ›

You can add some cornflour mixed in little water and let it boil with your soup till get nice thick consistency. And if you are a health conscious fellow then go for cooked oats. As I do, cook some oats along with lentils and then puree it to make soup. This will not only thicken your soup but add some more health too.

Which lentils are not gluten-free? ›

Yes, generally lentils are safe to eat for people who are sensitive to gluten, as lentils are naturally gluten-free. There may be some traces from cross-contamination, but if you are someone who can eat food with only traces of gluten without any problems, all types of lentils should be fine for you to eat.

Do all soups have gluten? ›

Not necessarily. Many canned soups contain gluten ingredients, frequently in the form of thickeners. Cream-based soups feature more wheat flour than you might even realize.

Are any soups gluten-free? ›

Campbell's® Cream of Chicken Gluten Free Soup starts with high-quality chicken stock, fresh cream and tender chicken raised without antibiotics for deliciously smooth flavor.

Do all Campbell's soups have gluten? ›

Some of our recipes require food starches, and others do not. However, many of our products are made without gluten-containing ingredients but are manufactured on shared equipment that have not been tested for the presence of gluten.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Corie Satterfield

Last Updated:

Views: 5853

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Corie Satterfield

Birthday: 1992-08-19

Address: 850 Benjamin Bridge, Dickinsonchester, CO 68572-0542

Phone: +26813599986666

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Table tennis, Soapmaking, Flower arranging, amateur radio, Rock climbing, scrapbook, Horseback riding

Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.