Think of your favorite homemade tomato soup.
OK, now add some chunky veggies and lentils. That’s what this recipe is and it’s SO GOOD.
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Even if you’re not a big tomato soup person, I think this is a good step in the direction of veggie-based soups that won’t leave you hungry. Bonus — it’s perfect for dipping bread (or grilled cheese) into. Because tomato soup and grilled cheese are perfect together!
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How to customize this homemade tomato soup
I won’t lie, there’s not as much customization in this hearty lentil tomato soup compared to our other recipes. But there are always ways to get creative!
- Swap lentils for quinoa or rice. You’ll get a similar texture but from a different ingredient! If you decide to make this swap, cook the grain on the side and add it to the soup in the last five minutes or so. Otherwise, rice or quinoa will get too mushy if it cooks in the soup.
- Add red bell pepper. If you cook red bell pepper before you add the celery, carrots, and onion mixture to the pan, you can get a sweet and smoky red pepper flavor to your soup!
- Add more basil. Got a big bunch of basil? You can blend it up in the food processor (or chop it up) and add it right in the soup at step 2 for an extra basil kick. (Or, even better, if you have pesto, you can add a tablespoon or so of that, or make it from all that extra basil you have).
- Add shredded chicken. Want more protein in this soup? Shredded chicken would work really well.
- Add beans. Chickpeas or white beans are top candidates. Why not? They go with everything and they don’t really disrupt the flavor too much! You can add them plain, or braise them in the oven at about 300 degrees F, with olive oil and some Italian-inspired spices (oregano, thyme, sage, parsley, etc).
- Use fire-roasted tomatoes. If you want a different flavor, swap out the regular diced tomatoes for fire-roasted crushed tomatoes. They’ve just got a little something extra and they come in cans. You’ll need to do an extra step of smashing the crushed tomatoes with the back of your spoon in step 2.
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How to make grilled cheese croutons:
These croutons would make your soup feel extra special (and your coworkers extra jealous). I mean, look how cute they are!
Here’s how to do it! All you need is some extra bread and cheese! I would make these while the soup cooks in step 2. Easy!
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Want to make this tomato soup creamy?
Add 2/3 cup heavy cream or milk to your soup to get a silky, creamy texture. Make sure to cut the amount of broth you are using by 1 cup. If you are following the recipe below exactly, use 1.5 cups broth and 2/3 cup heavy cream.
If you want to make this creamy without adding dairy, then you can add 1 cup of white beans that you’ve pureed with a little bit of hot water in the food processor or a high-speed blender. It’s an amazing trick that works in a lot of soups (broccoli cheddar, potato leek, etc.)
How to adapt and double this recipe
To double this recipe, simply double the ingredients. You may need more time to cook the lentils and a little more time for the soup (like 5 to 10 minutes). To add more volume to this recipe, start with one of the options above, like adding chickpeas, quinoa, or shredded chicken. Adding chopped bell pepper would be good too! Also, think about sides like an actual grilled cheese instead of just grilled cheese croutons, to accompany this soup.
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How to store and reheat this homemade tomato soup:
This soup lasts for up to 4 days in the fridge and it’s freezer-friendly for up to 3 months! That’s why there’s an extra serving — there’s nothing like pulling out a good soup meal on a lazy day when you don’t want to cook or grocery shop (or spend money). You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stove. Happy prepping!
Don’t forget to try our other delicious free recipes!
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Cozy Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
- Vegan Shepherd’s Pie with Lentils
- Lemon Garlic Orzo & Broccoli Skillet With Sausage
- Vegan Banana Bread (Perfect Breakfast or Snack)
- The Easiest Hummus Recipe You’ll Want To Make Every Week
View our full catalog of free recipes here!
Homemade Tomato Soup With Lentils
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 yellow onion chopped
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 2 celery sticks chopped
- 24 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cups broth or water
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil dried
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup lentils
- 1 cup basil fresh leaves, chopped (optional)
- bread of your choice, for serving
Instructions
- Add 1 TBSP olive oil to a large pot over medium heat, followed by minced garlic and onion. Stir often and cook for about 5 minutes or until fragrant. Add the chopped carrot and celery with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 5 minutes, until the veggies start to soften.
- Then pour in the diced tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, oregano, basil and more salt and pepper. Mix well and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let cook for about 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the lentils according to the package in a smaller pot on the side. Drain then when they’re done cooking (they’ll be soft to the bite, but not mushy) and set aside,
- After the soup has cooked for 20 minutes taste and adjust spices as needed. You may want to add more salt or pepper. Use an immersion blender or transfer half the soup to a blender. If using an immersion blender, blend so that most of it is smooth, but there’s still some veggie chunks. If using a blender, transfer the blended portion back to the pot and mix it together.
- Add the lentils to the soup and stir them in. If using basil, add the chopped leaves to the soup and stir as well.
- Assemble: divide the soup into 3-4 meal prep containers depending on how much food you usually eat. Top with more basil if desired. If you end up making 4 meals out of this, you can freeze 1!
Caitlin says
A regular go-to for a freezer-friendly prep. Simple and tasty. Never thought about lentils in tomato soup, but it works.
Changes I make: no tomato paste (don’t usually keep on hand), halve the recipe (a plus in my book when recipes halve nicely), and soak the lentils in water in the fridge overnight (just for faster cooking).