This curried red lentil soup is chock-full of hearty, delicious ingredients. There’s a rich curry coconut milk base, chickpeas and kale. Perfect for lunch or dinner with a side, this easy red lentil soup is always a favourite!
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.
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 and 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 favourite soups. It’s just super relishing and warming to the belly and soul. Deep, I know. But it is really good! Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Heat some coconut oil in a pot.
- Add onion and cook until softened.
- To onion, add garlic and cook for just a minute until fragrant.
- Stir in curry paste (or powder), crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
- To pot, add red peppers, broth and coconut milk. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
- Add drained chickpeas, simmer and cook.
- To pot, add red lentils and cook until tender.
- Next add kale and cook until wilted.
Do I Need to Soak Red Lentils?
Nope! Red lentils are so small, no soaking is required. I would, however, recommend picking over, rinsing and draining before using in this soup. Lentils can have rocks and foreign bits; discard those and any imperfect lentils. You definitely don’t want those in your delicious pot of soup!
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 broth (½ cup or so) and cook a little longer until it’s how you like it before adding the red lentils.
- I prefer to use full-fat coconut milk here. It really adds a creaminess and rich coconut flavour to the broth.
- 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 typically doesn’t.
- Like things more spicy? Add in more crushed red pepper flakes or freshly minced hot pepper. Or, drizzle hot sauce over top when serving.
- Try baby spinach or Swiss chard instead of kale. If using baby spinach, add during the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking. It takes less time to cook than hearty kale leaves.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
If you make this curried red lentil soup with coconut milk, be sure to leave a comment below!
This recipe was originally published in January 2017 but has been updated.
Curried Red Lentil Soup with Chickpeas and Kale
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon red curry paste, use a vegan variety if needed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 roasted red peppers, roughly chopped
- 4 to 5 cups low sodium vegetable broth, depending on how thin or thick you want the soup)
- 1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk, a 400 millilitre can
- 1 (19-ounce) can no salt added chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup dried red lentils, picked over (remove and discard any rocks, foreign objects and imperfect lentils), rinsed and drained
- 3 to 4 cups chopped kale (bite-sized pieces, leaves only, no stems), loosely packed
- Chopped cilantro leaves, garnish to taste (optional)
- Sliced chili pepper, garnish to taste (optional)
- Lemon or lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Melt coconut oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cook for 1 minute. Add crushed red pepper flakes, curry paste, salt and black pepper and stir to combine.
- To onion mixture, add roasted red peppers, 4 cups of vegetable broth and coconut milk. Stir to combine. Blend with an immersion blender to make smooth.
- Add chickpeas to pot. Bring to a simmer, cover with lid slightly ajar and cook for 15 to 20 minutes (see "Notes" below).
- Add lentils and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add kale and cook an additional 5 to 8 minutes or until red lentils are tender. If you want a thinner consistency, add remaining 1 cup of vegetable broth and heat through.
- Divide soup into bowls and garnish, if desired, with cilantro and chili pepper. Delicious served with a lemon or lime wedge squeezed over top. Enjoy!
Notes
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Bethany Jill
This is a great recipe. Made it for dinner tonight. I switched the curry paste for 1 tsp curry powder. I switched the kale with spinach. I will be making this again in the future. Perfect for a chilly winter night.
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Thank you very much!! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
Sarah
I made this for dinner tonight! It’s delicious!! I’m so excited about it because I don’t want to go back to the store with ice on the roads so I was looking for pantry-staple soups. This ones a keeper!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! So happy you enjoyed the recipe, Sarah! Thanks so much!
Jordan
I made this and my goodness was it delicious. All the flavors and textures were wonderful. Just wondering why mine was slightly paler in color than the picture? Does the curry paste/powder you typically use have a reddish tint?
Thanks again! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Hi Jordan! So happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe…thanks so much. 🙂 Curry powders and paste can vary in colour, depending on the blend and brand…this may impact the overall end result colour of the dish. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
Mimi
I love that you included chick peas with the lentils So smart. It’s nice to have that texture. thanks!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
So good! Thanks Mimi 🙂
Laura
This is my kind of soup – curry, lentils, chickpeas, flavor for days! Looks gorgeous,too! Great pics, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Happy to hear that! Thank you Laura 🙂
Jo Thrasher • Jo Eats
Love this kind of dish for an easy night in. You’re reading my mind with the comfort food!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Happy to hear that! Thanks Jo 🙂
Shashi at SavorySpin
I’m so glad you reposted this – this looks so darn good – so tasty and flavor jammed and lentils + chickpeas are such a tasty texture combo for me!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I can’t believe it’s going to be May 1st soon either Dawn! Time has been flying. Loving this hearty soup Dawn. Both Tom and I love soup with lentils. Need to get this one on our menu soon!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I know!! Hope you love it 🙂 Thanks Mary Ann!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I was given a jar of red lentils by a friend who says they bring good luck to a new home. Well our home is now three years old and I think I sound cook them up. Your recipe will be my inspiration.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
How sweet is that?? Thanks Karen 🙂 It’s a delicious one!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I actually have some red lentils in my pantry that I never know what to do with. Now I do! This will make a perfect lunch for this weekend. The weather is supposed to be rainy and this looks like just the right food for a rainy day!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Woot woot! It sure is 🙂 Thanks Kathy!
Valentina
I agree, the year is speeding by. Way too fast. This recipe sounds dreamy for a cool night. Or any night. Ha!
On another note (pun intended), I still have a wall calendar that I write on daily. 😀