Soups & Comfort

Lebanese Lentil Soup

Warm, spiced red lentils blended silky with cumin and lemon, topped with crispy onions — Lebanon's beloved comfort bowl.

November 4, 2026 By Chef Clara 4.94 (142 votes)
Lebanese Lentil Soup
The Quick Takeaway

In a nutshell: This authentic lebanese lebanese lentil soup comes together in just 50 mins using simple whole ingredients. The chef's secret: 60 seconds of frying wakes up the cumin and coriander in a way simmering alone never does. Perfect for home cooks seeking a dependable, restaurant-quality finish with minimal effort.

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Cuisine Lebanese
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Lebanese lentil soup: warm spiced red lentils with cumin, lemon and crispy onions. A nourishing bowl for cold November nights.

Key Equipment

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Chef's Pro-Tips

  • Bloom the spices in oil before adding liquid: 60 seconds of frying wakes up the cumin and coriander in a way simmering alone never does.
  • Blend longer than you think: red lentils turn truly silky only after a full 2 minutes of blending, not a quick pulse.
  • Lemon goes in last: acid added early dulls in the simmer, while lemon at the end brightens the whole bowl.

Ingredients
6 servings

  • 2 cups red lentils, rinsed
  • 1 yellow onion, diced, plus 1 sliced for topping
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp ground coriander
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • 6 cups vegetable broth, low sodium
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 lemon, juiced, plus wedges for serving
  • 1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
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Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Soften the Vegetables

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the diced onion and carrots for 6-7 minutes until softened, then stir in the garlic, cumin, coriander and turmeric for 1 minute until fragrant.

2

Simmer the Lentils

Add the lentils and broth, bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 25-30 minutes until the lentils have completely broken down.

3

Blend Until Silky

Blend with an immersion blender until velvety, adding a splash of water if it is thicker than you like. Season with salt, pepper and most of the lemon juice.

4

Crisp the Onions

Meanwhile, fry the sliced onion in the remaining oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, until deeply golden and crisp at the edges, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and salt lightly.

5

Serve

Ladle into bowls, top with crispy onions and parsley, and serve with lemon wedges and warm flatbread.

Chef Clara's Kitchen Picks

Kitchen Essentials

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — that one is a creamy coconut curry, while this is a lighter, lemon-and-cumin soup with crispy onion topping and no coconut.

Yes — it keeps 4 days in the fridge and actually tastes better the next day. Thin with water when reheating; it thickens as it sits.

Yes — freeze for up to 3 months without the onion topping. Make fresh crispy onions when you serve it.

No — red lentils cook fast and need no soaking. Just rinse them well before adding to the pot.