Curried Red Lentil Soup (with chickpeas and kale)

This curried red lentil soup is chock full of hearty, delicious ingredients. There’s a rich curry coconut milk base, chickpeas and kale. Plus, this easy red lentil soup is vegan, gluten free and dairy free! What’s not to love?

This Curried Red Lentil Soup recipe was originally posted in January 2017, but has been updated with new pics, text and more recipe details. 

Guys, can you believe that it’s almost May 1st? I was flipping through my planner the other day and was shocked to see how fast the year is going. I know what you may be thinking.

‘Paper planner, Dawn?’ Yes, I use an old school planner with the little monthly tabs, a section for notes and all that stuff.

Nothing like putting stuff on paper.  Writing it down…holding the planner in my hands…sticking my nose in the middle of it and taking a sniff.  What?  Did I just say that?  What is it about the smell of paper?  Especially in a book. Don’t even get me started, lol!

Despite almost being May 1st, it’s still very much not so spring-like around here just yet.  With rain/freezing rain/snow in the forecast this week, I’m still devouring all kinds of comfort food, like this red lentil chickpea soup with coconut milk!

How to Make Curried Red Lentil Soup with Chickpeas

This red curry lentil and chickpea soup is one of my hands down favourite soups.  It’s just super relishing and warming to the belly and soul. Deep, I know. But it is really good! To make this red lentil chickpea soup (in one pot, may I add) simply –

• Heat some coconut oil in a large pot.
• Add onion and cook until softened.
• To onion, add garlic and cook for just a minute.
• Stir in curry paste (or powder), chili flakes, salt and pepper.
• To pot, add red peppers, broth and coconut milk. Blitz with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Add drained chickpeas, simmer and cook 15 minutes (longer if you want a little less bite in those chickpeas).
• To pot, add red lentils and cook 5 minutes.
• Next goes kale and cook 5 to 8 minutes.
• Portion, garnish and enjoy!

Full recipe details are in the recipe card below.

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Do I Need to Soak Red Lentils?

Nope! Red Lentils are so small, no soaking is required.  I would, however, recommend picking over and rinsing before using in this soup. Lentils can have ‘rocks’ or foreign bits and you definitely don’t want those floating around in your delicious pot of soup!

How Do You Cook Red Lentils?

Dried red lentils require only a little bit of cooking time. 10 minutes is typically sufficient.  When they’re tender, but not totally gone to mush, they’re good to go.

More Tips and Variations

I like to leave the chickpeas with a little bite. If you like them on the softer side, add a little more stock (1/2 cup or so) and cook a little longer until it’s how you like it before adding the red lentils.

Don’t have curry paste on hand? Use curry powder! You may need to add a little more salt as the curry paste has salt, but curry powder doesn’t.

Like things more spicy? Add in more chili flakes or freshly minced hot pepper. Or, drizzle sriracha over top when serving.

Use baby spinach or Swiss chard instead of kale.  If using baby spinach, add during the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking. They take less time to cook that hearty kale leaves.

A squeeze of lime or lemon over top when serving is delish!

I prefer to use ‘full fat’ coconut milk here.  It really adds a creaminess and rich coconut flavour to the broth.

‘Unsalted’ vegetable broth was used here. If you use anything otherwise, then taste before adding any additional seasoning.

This curried red lentil soup makes for a lovely meal prep recipe for the week ahead!  You can easily double the recipe and freeze some for later too.

Enjoy this Easy Vegan Soup? You May Enjoy These Too –

• Curried Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup – With plenty of nutritious carrots and sweet potato, this vibrant soup is creamy, yummy and easy to prepare.
• Celery Root Soup – With celeriac (and other root veggies), this hearty soup will warm ya up on a cold day! So delicious!
• Spiced Lentil Stew with Sweet and Sour Cauliflower from Rhubarbarians – A flavourful and hearty meal any day of the week!

Hope you love this super nourishing soup as much as we do!

Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon,

Dawn

Make this curried red lentil soup with coconut milk? That’s awesome! Love it if you left a comment below. Many thanks!

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5 from 13 votes

Curried Red Lentil Soup with Chickpeas and Kale

This curried red lentil soup is chock full of hearty, delicious ingredients. There's a rich curry coconut milk base, chickpeas and kale. Plus, this easy red lentil soup is vegan, gluten free and dairy free! What's not to love?

Course Main Course, Side Dish, Soup, starter

Cuisine Thai

Keyword coconut curry lentil soup, red lentil soup with coconut milk, spicy red lentil soup, vegan red lentil soup

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 480kcal

Author Dawn – Girl Heart Food

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 yellow onion , peeled and thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic , minced
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon curry paste (or curry powder. See 'Notes' below)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 roasted red peppers , roughly chopped
• 4-5 cups unsalted vegetable broth
• 400 millilitre full fat coconut milk
• 19 ounce can unsalted chickpeas , rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup dried red lentils , rinsed, picked over & drained
• 3 to 4 cups kale , leaves removed from steam and chopped into bite sized pieces (loosely packed)
• cilantro (garnish, optional)
• chili pepper (garnish, optional)

Instructions

• In a medium sized pot or dutch oven over medium heat, melt coconut oil. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Add chili flakes, curry paste, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
• To onion mixture, add roasted red peppers, 4 cups of vegetable broth and coconut milk. Stir to combine. Blitz with an immersion blender to make smooth.
• Add chickpeas to pot and bring to a medium simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes with cover ajar (see 'Notes' below).  
• Add lentils and cook about 5 minutes. Add kale and cook an additional 5 to 8 minutes until red lentils are tender. Portion in bowls and garnish with cilantro and chili (if using). Enjoy!

Notes

• I like to leave the chickpeas with a little bite. If you like them on the softer side, add a little more stock (1/2 cup or so) and cook a little longer until it’s how you like it before adding the red lentils.
• Don’t have curry paste on hand? Use curry powder! You may need to add a little more salt as the curry paste has salt, but curry powder doesn’t.
• Like things more spicy? Add in more chili flakes or freshly minced hot pepper. Or, drizzle sriracha over top when serving.
• Use baby spinach or swiss chard instead of kale.  If using baby spinach, add during the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking. They take less time to cook that hearty kale leaves.
• A squeeze of lime or lemon over top when serving is delish!
• I prefer to use ‘full fat’ coconut milk here.  It really adds a creaminess and rich coconut flavour to the broth.
• ‘Unsalted’ vegetable broth was used here. If you use anything otherwise, then taste before adding any additional seasoning.
• This curried red lentil soup makes for a lovely meal prep recipe for the week ahead!  You can easily double the recipe and freeze some for later too.

 

Tried this recipe? That’s awesome!Mention @dawn.girlheartfood or tag #girlheartfood

Nutrition (estimate only)

Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Sodium: 583mg | Potassium: 951mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 6175IU | Vitamin C: 73.9mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 7.7mg

Nutrition Facts

Curried Red Lentil Soup with Chickpeas and Kale

Amount Per Serving

Calories 480 Calories from Fat 252

% Daily Value*

Fat 28g43%

Saturated Fat 22g138%

Sodium 583mg25%

Potassium 951mg27%

Carbohydrates 45g15%

Fiber 13g54%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 6175IU124%

Vitamin C 73.9mg90%

Calcium 176mg18%

Iron 7.7mg43%

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