For some reason I always had it in my head that soup was something that was really hard to make, so I never made it. Since I’m not a huge fan of canned soup, one of the only times I ever at soup was when I was ate home visiting my family. My mom was always making lentil and split pea soups and as much as I loved eating them, I didn’t want to spend the time to make them myself.
Then one day, I figured out that basically all soup is, is a bunch of vegetables cooked in some water or broth. It is almost embarrassing how easy soup is to make, and once you have all your ingredients in the pot you just sit back, relax, and let them hang out and get all happy together. Really what I’m saying is that making homemade soup is so easy that there is no excuse not to make your own soup! You can control every single ingredient that goes in and you can even make extra and freeze it for quick lunches or dinners.
As much as I love a good noodle soup or minestrone style soup, creamy blended soups are my favorites! Maybe it is because I’m lazy and would rather not have to chew my food, or maybe it is because you get every flavor of the soup in every single bite because they are all blended together. Not only do the sweet potatoes and carrots work perfectly in this soup because they are the same bright orange color, but they are also both sweet and pair perfectly with the curry.
The addition of the red lentils also helps to reinforce the beautiful orange color of this soup, but in addition they are nice because they are really quick cooking and kind of start to fall apart once they are added, which is perfect for the texture once you blend it together. They are also really pretty to look at when they are dry, which is a huge plus in my book š
You are more than welcome to leave this soup chunky and not blend it at all or blend part of it and leave a few chunks in there, but either way, this soup is pretty comforting and perfect for the cooler weather. I still can’t believe that October is almost over, I mean, really, where does the time go??!! Before we know it, it will be Christmas and then it will be New Years resolutions time and I’ll be vowing that I will lose some weight and exercise more.
So, really what I should do is make another pot of this soup, go for a run, and then maybe I will have one thing to cross of my resolutions list this year! I hope everyone is finally enjoying come cool weather and has had the experience of curling up with a soft blanket, a good book, and a bowl of hot soup š
Curried Sweet Potato, Carrot & Red Lentil Soup
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 3 cups diced carrots
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1/2 a yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground tumeric
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 5–6 cups of water, depending on how thick you want the soup to be
- olive oil
- coconut milk for topping, if desired
- cilantro leaves for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and coat the bottom with a small amount of olive oil. Add in the diced onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Saute for a few minutes until onions start to soften. Next add in the diced sweet potato, carrots, and all the spices. Stir and let cook for a few minutes. Finally add in the red lentils and the water. Bring soup to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the carrots and sweet potato are fork tender.
- Let soup cool for a few minutes and then blend with an immersion blender or blend in batches in a blender or food processor.
- Heat before serving and top with a drizzle of coconut milk and cilantro leaves, if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Soup, Gluten Free, Vegan
This month marks the anniversary of when we adopted Cheeto 4 years ago from the shelter! He was 3 months old and completely adorable! They told us that he loved to play and was great with kids. Four years later, he still loves to play, but absolutely hates kids!
Just found this recipe, but wanted to say it was good, but very earthy-tasting. I thought the ginger was a bit too much – I’d halve the ginger next time. I opened it up with a little honey. If people like a creamy soup, maybe hold a cup of water off and add in some coconut milk at the end. But, between this and a butternut squash soup recipe I have, I’m gonna be set for the rainy spring days and crisp autumn nights!
Hi Ryan, thanks for your feedback! I really love ginger so I tend to use a lot of it, I guess š Adding coconut milk is a great idea!
I thought the amount of ginger was great, I even added a bit extra :). I also added some light coconut milk at the end and it was a nice addition. It was a nice surprise to find a hearty vegan recipe–a complete meal with protein–on a non-vegan blog! Thanks!
Yah! So glad you liked it! I love the suggestion of adding some coconut milk, sounds so good!
I want to try this and pair it with a beer! Finding the right pairing for curry is tough without actually tasting the curry so I guess we’ll just have to make this recipe!
Haha, yes you will just have to make this recipe and then you can let me know which beer I should drink it with, haha!
THANK YOU thankyouthankyou Izzy! I’ve been looking for a yummy homemade soup recipe recently(have you ever looked at the back of a can and choked because the amount of sugar and sodium packed into the petite package was so astounding? It’s not the most pleasant experience, let me tell ya). But I used to have the same soup state of mind as you; making an edible soup seemed too “perfect Pinterest mom who has a full time job but still manages to decorate her kids’ lunches every morning before packing them into her DIY bento lunchboxes that she also sells online and donates 1/2 the proceeds to habitat for humanity” for my current stage of life. Thanks to this beautiful, pumpkin-hued recipe(that matches your adorable kitty purrfectly), I can put that fear aside! Love all the ingredients, too!
Haha, you are so welcome, Dulcie!! I always love your comments so much š I know! You think you are being healthy eating soup, but it turns out it is loaded with all kinds of crap and sodium and sugar! The horror! Haha, does a mom like that really exist?! I don’t even have kids and I am so far from that! Maybe I shouldn’t tell people how easy this soup is so that I can pretend like I slaved over it all day! It is a huge plus when I can make a tasty dish that also matches the color of Cheeto!
I love soup all year but it’s my favorite when the weather starts getting a bit chillier and I would love to get cozy with a big bowl of this. It looks absolutely gorgeous! Love the pretty color and the flavors sound amazing in here! Pinning š
It is so good when the weather starts getting cold! There is really nothing I want to eat more! Thanks so much for pinning, Kelly š
Soup is the bomb. This soup is pretty much THE most gorgeous color ever! Case closed. š
Seriously though, all the flavors you used in this soup just sound so good together! I am aaaall about the sweet potatoes these days. š
Awww, thanks so much, Sarah! Soup is definitely the bomb these days! I am all about the sweet potatoes these days too! I seriously can’t get enough and have another sweet potato recipe to post tomorrow, oopss!
I always had that perception too, that soup was hard to make so I didn’t bother. Just recently, I’m getting a little braver. And I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I just love the nutritiousness (is that even a word, oh well) of this soup. It is just chock full of healthy ingredients which I love. Snuggle down with my 2 little dachshunds and Smokie cat of course and enjoy delicious and filling soup. I’m soooo happy for Cheeto, that he found such a good home in you! My cat lived in the wild before we adopted him, never had any home before, a coyote made off with his eye! Got him to the vet….2 thousands bucks later….you get the drift =)
Isn’t it funny how sometimes we try making foods that we have been scared of and finally see how easy they are! I think I’ll be making soups all winter long now! That sounds like a nice snuggle party to me! Awww, thank you! I’m so happy that we walked into the shelter that day and he happened to be sitting there looking all cute š Oh no! pets can definitely be expensive, but they bring so much happiness that it doesn’t seem to matter sometimes š
Hey Izzy! This soup is pure comfort food! You always seem to know just what I like! This time of year makes soup even more enjoyable, eh? I say blend it all up.. for that thick and creamy experience, especially a soup like this! The swirl of coconut milk with cilantro on top is a perfect addition. Thank you for your sharing your recipe, Izzy! (Give Cheeto a chin scratch for me! Happy Adoption Month Cheeto…!! How about a shrimp cake, Ma?)
Traci!! Haha, I’m so glad you like this soup! We need to get together and have a potluck and a kitty party! Except the cats would probably not go for that as much, haha! I’m so glad you agree with the blending of the soup! Sometimes I feel like I am eating baby food, but it is just so much better that way! I will definitely give Cheeto a little chin scratch for you! Please give yours one for me too! A shrimp cake sounds like the perfect idea! Maybe Cheeto’s can be made out of shrimp and then Eric and I can have a yummy chocolate cake that looks like a shrimp š
Soups definitely seem like they’re harder to make then they really are! My Grandma always used to make split pea soup when I was younger, and I always thought it was such an involved process! I’m loving the flavors of this soup and the easiness of it, too. Such a great idea to pair sweet potatoes and lentils!
Same with my mom and the split pea soup and I was convinced it took hours of hard work, haha! Little did I know it took a few minutes of work and then a few more minutes of just letting it sit š This is my new favorite soup flavor!
I am such a big soup eater. I love it! This has such a beautiful color to it!
Thanks, Annie! I think the pretty color just makes me want to eat more and more of it š
This soup is gorgeous… I love lentil soups– so hearty and comforting and SO good for you! My kitty hates kids too… whenever my nephew comes over she runs for cover! Although, I don’t blame her… she wants to keep her tail in tact! š
Thank you, Jess! I’m in love with lentil soups too! Cheeto does the same thing and then if he does come out he hisses a bunch! Hopefully he doesn’t hate us when we decided to have babies!
This just goes to show how filling and delicious healthy food can be. I love this recipe.
So true, Danni!! Thank you š
Hi Izzy, I’m a big soup person and this combination sounds lovely!
Hi Cheri! I turn into a huge soup person once November hits so hopefully I’ll be posting a bunch more soup recipes soon!
Soup is the best, especially this time of year. Love all of the flavors in this and the pictures are gorgeous too! Makes me want a bowl right now š
I totally agree, Danielle! Thank you so much! I ate this soup for lunch everyday last week and I’m now thinking I need to make another big batch š
Mm, love these flavors. I make a similar sweet potato soup that I’m hoping to share soon as well. š They are just so perfect for the fall months, aren’t they?!
Thanks Katie! I can’t wait to see your soup! I’ve been eating soup non-stop lately and I don’t plan on changing that anytime soon š
This soup looks super delicious! I love cooking with red lentils and sweet potatoes and will definitely try it! So easy and healthy! Pinned!
Thanks Mira! I love red lentils and sweet potatoes too! I think I eat sweet potatoes a few times a week, so this soup is the perfect way to get my fix š
I adore soup. It was the first thing I ever cooked and till this day I can eat it all the time (even in the summer). I must try this combination. Sound good
This combo is so good, Kathy! I eat some soup in the summer, when the AC is blasting, but I just gobble it up in the wintertime!
Soup is one of my favorite things to make this time of the year! Easy and usually fairly quick! This looks absolutely delicious – and the color!! It’s so pretty!
Mine too, Ashley! That is another reason I need to get a crockpot, so I can make soup while I’m at work all day! Thanks, so much!