Smoky Harvest Quinoa Soup

This smoky harvest quinoa soup is full of healthful veggies like candy potatoes, tomatoes, and spinach, all simmered with lentils and quinoa in a savory broth. It’s straightforward to make and ideal by itself for a lightweight lunch or starter, or paired with crusty bread or a salad for a hearty, satisfying vegan meal.

There’s quite a bit you are able to do with quinoa, and I really like getting artistic with it — creating recipes like quinoa meat balls, quinoa burgers, quinoa tacos, and even quinoa muffins. However generally simplicity is the best way to go, and that’s precisely the case with this quinoa soup. As an alternative of remodeling quinoa into one thing else, this recipe places it heart stage, simmering it in a smoky broth with hearty greens.

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The soup itself is full of taste, that includes lentils and a vibrant medley of veggies alongside the quinoa. It’s satisfying with out being heavy, and the mix of brothy goodness and tender quinoa makes it excellent for sopping up with an enormous piece of crusty bread.

Better of all, this soup is simple to make and comes collectively in a single pot. The recipe additionally makes a pleasant, massive batch, so you possibly can get pleasure from leftovers for days.

Tip: In case you give this recipe a attempt to love quinoa in soup, you’ll most likely get pleasure from my quinoa chili as nicely!

Substances You may Want

Under you may discover a record of substances on this recipe, with notes and substitutions. Scroll all the best way to the underside of the submit to see the total recipe, together with the quantity of every ingredient.

Olive oil. You’ll be able to substitute one other impartial high-heat oil if you would like.
Onion.
Carrots.
Celery.
Garlic.
Spices. We’re utilizing a smoky mix of floor cumin and smoked paprika.
Vegetable broth.
Brown lentils. These are the commonest lentils, typically simply labeled as “lentils.” Different sorts of lentils, like purple or inexperienced lentils, will work, however the texture will likely be completely different and the cooking time will should be adjusted.
Quinoa. Dried quinoa is bought in several colours, equivalent to white, purple, and black. Be happy to make use of any — all of them style the identical.
Candy potato.
Canned diced tomatoes.
Child spinach. Be happy to swap this out with one other tender inexperienced like arugula or child kale.
Salt and pepper.

How It is Made

Under is an in depth picture tutorial on learn how to make this dish. Scroll all the best way down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Carrots, celery, and onions cooking in a pot.

Step 1: Sweat the greens. Warmth your oil in a big pot, then add diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Prepare dinner the greens for about 10 minutes, giving them an occasional stir, till they begin to soften.

Carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and spices cooking in a pot.

Step 2: Add garlic and spices. Stir minced garlic and spices into the combination, then proceed to cook dinner every part for a couple of minute. Stir the entire time to keep away from burning.

Lentils and vegetables simmering in a pot of broth.

Step 3: Simmer the lentils. Add the broth and lentils, then crank up the warmth and convey the broth to a boil. Decrease the warmth and let the lentils simmer for about quarter-hour. They will be simply beginning to soften by this level.

Quinoa, vegetables, and lentils simmering in broth.

Step 4: Simmer the candy potato and quinoa. Add your dried quinoa and a diced candy potato to the pot. Proceed to simmer the soup till every part is tender — lentils, quinoa, and candy potato.

Tomatoes being stirred into a pot of soup.

Step 5: Add tomatoes. Stir within the can of diced tomatoes, and let your soup proceed to simmer for five minutes.

Quinoa soup simmering in a pot on a cooktop.

Step 6: Add spinach. Stir your spinach into the soup and let it proceed simmering simply till the spinach wilts, a minute or two.

Step 7: End the soup. Take the pot off the warmth, then season the soup with salt and pepper to style.

Bowl of Quinoa Soup with a pot and loaf of bread in the background.

Step 8: Serve. Your quinoa soup is able to get pleasure from! Ladle it into bowls and dig in!

Variations

Bean swaps. Scale back the broth by a cup and exchange the lentils with a can of no matter you will have available — chickpeas, cannellini beans, and kidney beans are all nice choices.
Veggie swaps. Substitute the candy potato with a root veggie like an everyday potato or winter squash. The spinach will be changed with different tender greens like arugula and child kale.
Add protein. This soup is nice with some sautéed sliced vegan sausage or pan-fried tofu.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Is that this soup gluten-free?

It’s! The recipe, as written, consists of no gluten-containing substances.

Do I must rinse my quinoa earlier than I add it to the soup?

It will depend on the model. Most manufacturers are pre-rinsed, so that you need not rinse it once more. Test the package deal — it’ll normally point out if the quinoa is pre-rinsed or instruct you to rinse it your self.

How ought to I retailer leftovers of this soup?

Leftover quinoa soup will preserve in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. The quinoa and lentils will proceed to absorb broth throughout storage, so add some extra broth or water whenever you reheat it, if wanted.

Like this recipe? In that case, please cease again and go away me a assessment and ranking under should you strive it! Additionally be sure you observe me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter for extra recipes like this one!

Recipe

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Prep Time 15

Prepare dinner Time 55

Complete Time 1 10

Substances

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium celery stalks, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ teaspoons floor cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
8 cups vegetable broth
½ cup dried brown lentils
⅔ cup dry quinoa (Be aware 1)
1 medium candy potato (about 12 ounces), diced (½-inch)
1 (14 ounce/397 gram) can diced tomatoes
2 cups child spinach
Salt and pepper, to style

Directions

Coat the underside of a giant pot with the oil and place it over medium warmth. Give the oil a minute to warmth up, then add the onion, carrots, and celery. Prepare dinner the greens for about 10 minutes, stirring sometimes, till they start to melt.
Stir within the garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika. Prepare dinner every part for about 1 minute longer, stirring always, till the combination turns into very aromatic.
Stir within the broth and lentils. Elevate the warmth and convey the liquid to a boil, then decrease the warmth and let it simmer for quarter-hour.
Stir within the quinoa and candy potato, then let the soup proceed to simmer for about quarter-hour extra, stirring sometimes, till the quinoa, lentils, and candy potato are tender. You’ll be able to add some water to the pot if it reduces an excessive amount of at any level.
Stir within the diced tomatoes and let the soup simmer for five minutes extra, stirring sometimes.
Add the spinach and simmer the soup simply till the spinach is totally wilted, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
Take away the pot from warmth. Season the soup with salt and pepper to style.
Ladle into bowls and serve.