The Best Instant Pot Lentil Soup

It’s formally soup season, and I’m right here for it! At the moment, I’m sharing the soup recipe I make each week: Immediate Pot Lentil Soup. That includes tender lentils, tasty herbs and greens, and a flavorful broth I may sip on all day, it’s a very simple, healthful recipe you’ll be able to depend on all through the cold-weather months.

If I ever began a second weblog, I’m fairly positive it will have one thing about lentils within the title as a result of—second to candy potatoes, in fact—they’ve a really particular place in my coronary heart (and abdomen!). One among my all-time favourite methods to get pleasure from them? This Immediate Pot lentil soup recipe!

Made with easy steps and budget-friendly, healthful components, it’s no exaggeration to say that I make this soup weekly. Not solely do I get pleasure from it contemporary out of the pot, however I additionally meal prep it for lunches and busy weeknight dinners. It’s so good with do-it-yourself sourdough bread, and even cornbread. I solely want Child J appreciated it too (sadly, my daughter doesn’t like all kind of soup).

Though I’ve a tried-and-true base recipe with veggies, dried herbs, tomatoes, and broth, I’ve additionally examined numerous tasty variations—including grains or beans, switching up the spices, or mixing in numerous veggies. Primarily, there’s no incorrect technique to make lentil soup within the Immediate Pot. However don’t take it from me—let’s get cooking!

Love lentil soup recipes as a lot as I do? Attempt my Butternut Squash Lentil Soup, Red Lentil Carrot Soup, and Cure-All Vegan Lentil Soup. These will be made within the Immediate Pot too!

Components

Lentils: The namesake ingredient! Inexperienced (additionally referred to as French) or brown lentils work greatest. Whereas purple lentils are scrumptious, I discover them too delicate for this recipe. Rinse and kind earlier than utilizing—no soaking mandatory.

Aromatics: Onion, celery, carrot, and garlic construct a deep, savory taste base for the soup. Use contemporary garlic at any time when doable, and cube the greens finely for a fair end.

Potatoes: They add heartiness, vitamins, and simply sufficient starch to make the broth silky and creamy. Use golden potatoes for a buttery taste or purple potatoes for a barely firmer, starchier consistency.

Tomatoes: One can of crushed or diced tomatoes provides a contemporary, flippantly acidic taste. Don’t drain them earlier than including.

Herbs: A dried bay leaf, a sprig of contemporary rosemary, and dried oregano and thyme give the soup a well-rounded herbaceous profile. If wanted, swap 1 teaspoon dried rosemary for the sprig, or 1 tablespoon contemporary oregano or thyme for each 1 teaspoon dried.

Olive Oil, Salt, and Pepper: Olive oil provides richness and retains the aromatics from sticking. Salt seasons the soup and makes each taste pop, whereas pepper provides a lightweight, zesty chunk.

Vegetable Broth: Supplies the moisture wanted to cook dinner the lentils and provides savory depth to the soup. Use store-bought, homemade stock, or do like I do and blend 4 cups of water with 2 1/2 tablespoons of Better Than Bouillon vegetable base.

Vinegar: Stirring in simply 1 tablespoon of apple cider or balsamic vinegar brightens the entire pot. It’s technically non-compulsory, however I all the time advocate it for the flavour elevate it provides.

Kale or Spinach: Provides a serving of greens, delicate taste, and a pop of colour. You’ll want about 4 cups.

Recipe Variations

It’s simple so as to add your personal contact to this recipe! Add or swap any of the next components to the Immediate Pot lentil soup recipe primarily based on what you’re craving or have readily available:

Make It a Stew: Add 3 cups of water or broth (as an alternative of 4) for a thicker, lentil stew within the Immediate Pot.

Swap Up the Veggies: Swap rainbow carrots for orange, stir in a cup of inexperienced beans or peas, use two cups of chopped contemporary tomatoes as an alternative of canned, or add 1 cup of chopped candy potato or butternut squash for earthy sweetness.

Make It Spicy: Add as much as 1 teaspoon purple pepper flakes, dried Calabrian chile flakes, or scorching paprika, or end every bowl with a drizzle of harissa for a kick of warmth.

Add Grains: Stress cook dinner with 1/2 cup barley or quinoa with the soup for added plant-based protein and heartiness.

Bulk with Beans: One can of drained and rinsed beans provides protein, fiber, and taste. Stir your favourite selection in with the kale.

End Sturdy: Garnish bowls with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, vegan parmesan, and/or freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley or purple pepper flakes for a formidable presentation and scrumptious taste.

The best way to Make Immediate Pot Lentil Soup

I all the time adore it when a recipe is as simple to make as it’s scrumptious and healthful, and I’m proud to report that this strain cooker lentil soup matches the invoice! Right here’s easy methods to put together it:

Sauté Aromatics. Set the Immediate Pot to Sauté on MEDIUM warmth. Add the oil to the pot. Heat for 10 seconds, then add the onions, celery, garlic, and salt. Stir nicely and sauté for about 3 minutes till the onions are translucent. Cancel the Sauté setting.

Add Remaining Components. Add the bay leaf, rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, carrots, potatoes, lentils, tomatoes, water (or broth), and the vegetable bouillon paste if utilizing (see ingredient notes above). In case you’d just like the kale to be very tender, add it to the strain cooker now.

Stress Prepare dinner. Lock the lid onto the Immediate Pot, and strain cook dinner the lentil soup on HIGH for 8 minutes. When it has completed cooking, naturally launch the steam for 10 minutes, then quick-release the remaining strain.

overhead soup right after pressure cooking

Stir in Greens. Take away the lid and stir within the chopped kale or spinach (if not already added). Stir nicely, then let it sit for 10 minutes to cook dinner the kale.

End and Serve. Stir within the vinegar and season the soup to style with salt and pepper. Serve scorching with toasted bread, croutons, or cornbread.

Jenné’s Recipe Ideas

Finely cube the greens: This ensures even cooking and a constant texture, providing you with a balanced mix of components in each chunk.
Add the greens when desired: For tender, tender kale, stir it into the lentils and seasonings earlier than strain cooking. In case you favor a extra al dente texture (and further nutrient retention), stir the greens into the new soup after cooking in order that they wilt gently.
Let the soup relaxation: Letting the soup sit for five–10 minutes permits the lentils to proceed softening and the flavors to deepen, thickening the soup to a comfortable, stew-like consistency.
Season to style: As with most soups, seasoning is vital. Add salt and pepper to style, then garnish and serve.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerating: Leftover soup retains lined in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Freezing: As soon as cooled to room temperature, you’ll be able to freeze the Immediate Pot lentil stew in a freezer-safe container for as much as 3 months. Defrost it in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Reheating: Heat the soup in a saucepan over low warmth for five minutes or within the microwave on light warmth till scorching.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Do I must soak the lentils first?

Nope, the lentils don’t must be soaked earlier than cooking. Simply rinse and kind them to take away dust and particles earlier than including them to the pot.

Why does my lentil soup thicken after cooking?

Like another starchy components, lentils proceed to soak up liquid as they cool, which may trigger the soup to thicken after cooking. If it thickens an excessive amount of, merely stir in vegetable broth or water to skinny it to your choice.

Can I double this recipe?

Actually—simply don’t fill the Immediate Pot past the max fill line (marked on the within of the pot). Lentils broaden as they cook dinner, in order that they want satisfactory room to cook dinner safely. The cooking time stays the identical when doubling, because the Immediate Pot naturally will increase the time required to achieve strain.

How can I add extra protein?

Stir in 1/2 cup of barley or quinoa earlier than strain cooking or a can of drained and rinsed beans (of any selection) with the kale or spinach so as to add further plant-based protein and heartiness. Lentils are a improbable supply of plant-based protein, with 18 grams per serving.