If you are looking for healthy and light lunch ideas, here are Two Lentil Based Soup Recipes that will help you to have a light yet nourishing meal any time of the day.

Lentil and carrot soup spiced up

This is a wonderful soup recipe to step up your daily nutritional intake. At the same time, you need not make it an elaborate meal preparation process. The soups can be easily made, allowing the soup to boil in a slow cooker after the initial ingredients are added. Once the soup is ready you can make it a complete meal by consuming the same with crusty bread or Indian breads like naan or parathas.

Ingredients you need

  • 600 gm carrots
  • Split red lentils, 140 gm
  • Vegetable stock
  • Milk, 125 ml
  • Cumin seeds, 2 tsp
  • A pinch of chili flakes
  • 2 tbsp of olive oil
  • Plain yoghurt
  • Crusty bread or Indian bread like naan, paratha

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How to make?

The preparation of this soup is an easy one. Start by heating a little oil in a frying pan. Add in cumin seeds, chili flakes till the aromas of these ingredients can be smelt. Add in carrots and lentils and sauté for some time. Meanwhile, add in water and allow the mixture to boil. Simmer on medium high heat for about 15 minutes. The simmering has to be done till the lentils become softened. Add in the milk and allow to simmer for some time. Switch off the heat and blend with a stick blender or put in a food processor. Once a smooth mixture is formed, pour out the soup. Add seasonings as per your taste. You might want to sauté the same spices in a dry and hot pan and add them as seasonings on top. Serve with a dollop of yoghurt and consume with warmed breads.

Another curried version

Ingredients you need

  • 1 tsp of curry powder
  • ½ tsp of ground cumin
  • 1 tsp of ground coriander
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 leek, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1 cube of vegetable stock
  • 390 gm of green lentil
  • 2 tbsp of yoghurt
  • 3 tbsp of chopped coriander

8How to make?

The method of making the soup is similar to the above method. You need to first sauté the spices, either on a dry pan or in a little oil. Sauté the carrots, garlic and lentils as well. Pour in water and add in the vegetable stock. Combine all ingredients and boil with water. The simmering in water should happen for about ten minutes. Add in the lentils towards the end, when the lentil has softened. You can then add in the coriander in chopped form. This is a common feature in most homemade soups. Check Out Veg And Non Veg Soup Recipes For Guests here. Once the soup is done, blend in with a blender by hand or put in the mixture in a food processor. You can adjust the water accordingly to thicken or lighten the soup mixture. You can store the soup up to two days and use as much as required. Add in a dollop of yogurt when you wish to have the soup with bread.