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    Cooking Gorgeous » Recipes » Soups

    Mediterranean Lentil Soup

    Published: Dec 14, 2022 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Mediterranean Lentil Soup is a healthy, yet incredibly flavorsome dish made with green lentils, onions, carrots, and celery cooked in a tomato-based broth.

    It is flavored with bay leaves and cumin and then brightened with a generous amount of lemon juice.

    Mediterranean lentil soup garnished with chopped parsley

    This rustic-looking lentil soup is extremely easy to make and requires only a few ingredients.

    Packed with Mediterranean flavors, this soup is a warm and comforting meal to enjoy with your family on a cold winter night!

    Jump to:
    • Healthy and Nutritious Mediterranean Lentil Soup
    • Why This Recipe Works?
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How to Make Mediterranean Lentil Soup?
    • Top Tips From the Chef
    • What to Serve with Mediterranean Lentil Soup?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Mediterranean Lentil Soup

    I grew up having this simple Mediterranean Lentil Soup all year round. My mom's version always tasted amazing as it included a handful of eriste / kesme, a type of homemade Turkish pasta. I use orzo or ditalini when I don't have eriste available.

    Adding a spoonful of tomato paste adds richness and an umami taste to this Mediterranean Lentil Soup. But the moment it really shines is when you add a splash of lemon juice just before serving it!

    Mediterranean lentil soup served in a bowl

    Healthy and Nutritious Mediterranean Lentil Soup

    Lentils are part of the legumes family and are the staple of Turkish and Mediterranean diets. I use them in many Turkish recipes such as Mercimek Kofte (Vegan Lentil Balls), Lentil and Bulgur Pilaf, and Turkish Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbasi). They are also budget-friendly, making them perfect to feed a crowd.

    Healthline.com says lentils are an excellent source of fiber and are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Also, they contain a good amount of iron, vitamins, minerals, folate, and magnesium. Therefore, lentils can help reduce the risk of heart disease, increase energy, and reduce blood cholesterol.

    This Mediterranean Lentil Soup recipe also has fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery, and tomatoes which makes this delicious soup even healthier.

    Served with a generous squeeze of lemon juice and chopped fresh parsley, this lentil soup makes a tasty, and healthy dinner entree that the whole family will enjoy, including fussy eaters.

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • Mediterranean Lentil Soup is one of these dishes that taste amazing, is inexpensive to make, and is also full of nutrients.
    • It is very easy to make and requires a few basic fridge and pantry ingredients you might already have in hand.
    • Soups like Mediterranean Lentil Soup and Spiced Butternut Squash Soup are perfect to serve on a cold winter night when you need something nutritious, warming, and delicious.
    • The leftovers are great for packed lunches. They also freeze beautifully if you want to keep them for longer.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

    Labelled picture of ingredients for Mediterranean lentil soup
    • Green lentils - They are a staple in Turkish and Mediterranean cuisines and are used for making soups, and salads or adding to bulgur pilaf or borek filling. You can substitute them with brown lentils.
    • Mirepoix - It is a mixture of diced onions, celery, and carrots. It is the seasoning and flavoring base for dishes such as Bolognese, Ragu, or Beef Bourguignon.
    • Stock - For the best results, always try and use homemade or a good quality stock for your soup. If using store-bought stock, check the seasoning before adding salt to your dish. Use Basic Homemade Vegetable Stock if you want to make this delicious soup vegan-friendly.
    • Tomato paste - It is the staple of Turkish cooking. It adds an umami flavor to the dishes as well as a bright red color. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or buy it online from Amazon .
    • Pasta - This lentil soup is best when made with homemade pasta called "eriste or kesme". However, other small pasta types such as orzo, vermicelli, or ditalini work great too.
    • Lemon - The sharpness of the lemon will elevate the flavor and bring some brightness to this warm and comforting soup. You can substitute it with vinegar or lime juice.
    • Bay leaves - I prefer using fresh bay leaves whenever I can. However, dried ones would work too. Don’t forget to remove them before serving! 

    How to Make Mediterranean Lentil Soup?

    Cooking this delicious Mediterranean Lentil Soup is very easy and to achieve the best results you need to follow a few simple steps:

    Heat a large heavy-based pan or a Dutch oven on medium heat. Add the olive oil and sauté the onions along with the garlic until soft and translucent. 

    sautéing onions and garlic with olive oil

    Add the celery and carrots, and sauté them for a few minutes until they are slightly softened.

    the carrots, garlic and celery are added to the sautéed onions

    When the vegetables are softened, stir in the tomato paste, cumin, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

    spices, tomato paste and seasoning are added to sautéed vegetables

    Sauté them together for 30 seconds, stirring continuously. Sautéing the spices for 30 seconds brings out their flavors.

    the vegetables are sautéed with the tomato paste and spices

    Pour in the stock, add the lentils along with the bay leaves, and bring the mixture to a boil.

    lentils, stock and bay leaves are added to the pan

    Lower the heat and gently simmer the soup for 30 minutes, until the lentils are softened. Add the pasta and cook for another 10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked.

    Mediterranean lentil soup is cooked for 40 minutes

    Remove the pan from the heat, discard the bay leaves, and add the lemon juice. Garnish with a generous amount of chopped parsley before serving.

    Mediterranean lentil soup garnished with chopped parsley

    Top Tips From the Chef

    • If using store-bought stock for your Mediterranean Lentil Soup, check the seasoning before adding salt to it.
    • Sautéing the spices for 30 seconds brings out their flavors. Stir continuously while sautéing to avoid them burning.
    • The cooking time of lentils can vary. If they are very fresh, they will cook more quickly. Older ones will take a bit longer to become tender.
    • This recipe will give you a thick soup consistency. You can adjust the thickness by playing with the quantity of stock added during the cooking process.  
    • The sharpness of the lemon will elevate the flavor and bring some brightness to this warm and comforting soup. Don't skip this step!
    • Remember to remove the bay leaves before serving your delicious lentil soup.

    What to Serve with Mediterranean Lentil Soup?

    Mediterranean Lentil Soup is a hearty and filling dish on its own. However, I love the addition of some Greek Pita Bread, Black Pepper Sourdough Focaccia, or freshly baked Pitka (Bulgarian Christmas Bread) to dip in my soup.

    For a more substantial meal, you can also add some salad such as Beetroot and Feta Salad, Lebanese Fattoush Salad, or Gavurdagi Salatasi (Tomato and Walnut Salad).

    Recipe FAQs

    How to store the leftovers?

    This recipe makes 4 large portions. If you are a small family and have some leftover lentil soup, you can store them in the fridge for five days in an airtight container. Be sure the soup has completely cooled before you store it in the fridge.

    Can I freeze Mediterranean Lentil Soup?

    Yes, this delicious soup freezes beautifully! Let the soup completely cool down, place it in an airtight container, and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Can I make this soup ahead?

    Yes, this lentil soup is perfect for meal prep and tastes even better after a day or two. Resting the soup for a few days will help the flavors to meld better and also will thicken up the soup.

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious, healthy, and comforting soup recipes why not try:

    • Cauliflower and celeriac soup
      Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Celeriac
    • roasted pumpkin soup made in Thermomix
      Creamy Roasted Vegan Pumpkin Soup Recipe
    • tomato soup served in a bowl with basil leaves
      Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
    • yayla Corbasi Turkish yoghurt Corbasi served with mint sauce
      Yayla Corbasi - Turkish Yogurt Soup

    Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making this healthy, delicious, and warming Mediterranean Lentil Soup as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂 

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!

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    Mediterranean Lentil Soup

    Ayla Clulee
    Mediterranean Lentil Soup is a healthy, simple yet incredibly flavorsome dish made with green lentils, onions, carrots, and celery cooked in a tomato-based broth.
    5 from 5 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Soup
    Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean, Turkish
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 313 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 measuring spoons
    • 1 Measuring cups
    • 1 Lodge Dutch oven

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 200 g green lentil
    • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
    • 1 small carrot (finely diced)
    • 1 stick celery (finely diced)
    • 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 ¼ l vegetable stock, chicken stock, or beef stock
    • 50 g eriste, ditalini or orzo pasta
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • chopped parsley (to garnish)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat a large heavy-based pan or a Dutch oven on medium heat.
    • Add the olive oil and sauté the onions along with the garlic until soft and translucent. 
    • Add the celery and carrots, and sauté them for a few minutes until they are slightly softened.
    • Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, and sauté for 30 seconds.
    • Pour in the stock, add the lentils along with the bay leaves and bring the mixture to a boil.
    • Lower the heat and gently simmer the soup for 30 minutes, until the lentils are softened.
    • Add the pasta and cook for another 10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and add the lemon juice.
    • Garnish with a generous amount of chopped parsley before serving.

    Notes

    • If using store-bought stock for your Mediterranean Lentil Soup, check the seasoning before adding salt to it.
    • Sautéing the spices for 30 seconds brings out their flavors. Stir continuously while sautéing to avoid them burning.
    • The cooking time of lentils can vary. If they are very fresh, they will cook more quickly. Older ones will take a bit longer to become tender.
    • This recipe will give you a thick soup consistency. You can adjust the thickness by playing with the quantity of stock added during the cooking process. 
    • The sharpness of the lemon will elevate the flavor and bring some brightness to this warm and comforting soup. Don't skip this step!
    • Remember to remove the bay leaves before serving your delicious lentil soup.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 313kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 15gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 637mgPotassium: 684mgFiber: 17gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2227IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    This post uses affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Daisy

      January 29, 2023 at 2:49 pm

      5 stars
      Flavorful, easy, and delicious! Thank you for the recipe..

      Reply
    2. Suzan

      March 05, 2023 at 5:27 am

      5 stars
      This was yummy and a big hit with the family, will be part of my regular rotation!

      Reply
      • Ayla Clulee

        March 05, 2023 at 5:28 am

        Thank you for your lovely comment, Suzan!
        Best wishes
        Ayla x

        Reply
    3. John S.

      August 31, 2024 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent lentil soup!

      Reply
      • Ayla Clulee

        September 01, 2024 at 3:48 am

        Hi John,
        Thank you so much! We love it too, especially with a nice piece of borek or two.

        Reply
    5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome to Cooking Gorgeous, where delicious easy-to-follow recipes and culinary inspiration await you! My name is Ayla Clulee, a passionate and professional Cordon Bleu-trained chef, recipe developer, and food content creator with decades of experience. I am based in the UK, and I'm thrilled to have you here.

    The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy.

    More about me →

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