A one-pot meal that can feed a crowd, this authentic vegetarian Lebanese soup recipe made with red lentils and vegetables is seasoned with cumin and turmeric.
My husband orders lentil soup whenever we go out for Lebanese food. While I grew up eating a slightly different version of Lebanese lentil soup (made with spinach and brown lentils), I’ve been on a mission to recreate the restaurant version my husband adores.
The secret? A combination of creamy potatoes and red lentils. When cooked and pureed, they turn into a silky soup with the perfect texture.
For added smokiness and flavor, I like to add smoked paprika along with cumin and turmeric.
Right before serving I like to top with a dollop of plain yogurt. Not only does the tanginess balance out the slight heat and spice from the soup but it cools down the dish so you don’t burn your tongue. I find this to be especially useful when you’re 3 years old and don’t have much patience at dinner time.
Your spoon is waiting.
Slow Cooker Lebanese Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 6 Dynamic Duo potatoes, halved or other Little Potato Company variety
- 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Red Lentils
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- plain yogurt to serve
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients (minus the yogurt) in a slow cooker insert. Heat on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours.
- Before serving, puree soup in blender or using an immersion blender until smooth and creamy. Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly before serving.
Chef’s Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am honored to be a Brand Ambassador for The Little Potato Company. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. All thoughts are my own.
Linda Lavigne
Hi Liz, I’m just starting to experiment with lentils. For this recipe do you have to soak the lentils first? Or just wash them and add them to the crockpot?
Thank you!
Linda
Liz DellaCroce
No you never need to soak lentils – they are pretty quick cooking!! Enjoy!
Gina @Running to the Kitchen
This looks so incredibly flavorful!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you Gina!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health
these look perfect for a weekend!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you love it!!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
Looks vibrant and appetizing!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much Megan!
Alison's Allspice
I love silky soups like this one, and I’m always looking for more recipes using turmeric! Definitely a keeper, Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes I’ve been adding turmeric to everything !! Enjoy!
Kim Kidd
Can you just use six red potatoes ? Skin? No skin ? And do they have to be cut up ? Or just put whole ? And then blended later ?
Liz DellaCroce
Just adjusted the recipe to include those details but these are small no-peel potatoes. :) You halve them. Enjoy!
Kim Kidd
Can I use regular red potatoes? Maybe cut up? I am just trying to use what I have on hand but worried after 8 hours slow cooking that the RED potatoes wont blend nicely. I don’t want to waste food or 8 hours:) Please let me know your thoughts on red potatoes for this recipe. I am excited to make it!
I love ALL your soups with lemon!!
Liz DellaCroce
I think they would work perfectly!!
Kim Kidd
Red potatoes worked fine (ish) I would definitely peel them! The peels didn’t blend well. I used a hand held blender thing. So, red potatoes ok. It turned out great! I froze at least six jars!! Thank you!
Liz DellaCroce
So happy!!!
Bette
I don’t see any potatoes in the recipe! I still can’t wait to make it though, LOL!
Liz DellaCroce
All fixed – sorry about that. :)
mary
there are no potatoes listed in the actual recipe for the Lebanese red lentil soup-??
Any recommendations for cooking on the stove?
Liz DellaCroce
All fixed – sorry about that. :) For a stove top recipe try this one: https://thelemonbowl.com/2010/09/lemony-lentil-soup-with-spinach.html
Sandy
You said the secret is the creamy potatoes but they are not in the recipe list??
Liz DellaCroce
All fixed – sorry about that Sandy!
sassygirl
no potatoes in this version??
you mentioned them above but not found in this
recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
All fixed- sorry about that!
Michele schnitzer
In you instructions for this lentil soup, I think your reversed your times for the slow cooker: 4 hours at Low or 8 hrs at High. Probably should be the other way around?
Liz DellaCroce
All fixed – sorry about that Michele!
Melissa
I see potatoes and maybe cilantro, but they are not on the ngredients list.
Liz DellaCroce
Just fixed – sorry bout that Melissa!