Description

A kid-friendly, vegan coconut curry lentil soup that is warm, cozy, and perfect for family cooking sessions. It uses simple pantry staples and requires no dangerous knife work for children.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup red lentils (200g)
4 cups vegetable broth (1 liter)
1 can full-fat coconut milk (400ml)
2 medium carrots, diced (150g)
1 medium onion, diced (150g)
2 teaspoons mild curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Black pepper to taste
Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
Lime wedges
Crusty bread or naan for serving

Instructions

Prep the veggies: Dice carrots and onion into small pieces and mince garlic. Rinse the red lentils well.
Sauté the aromatics: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, cooking for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add lentils and broth: Stir in the rinsed red lentils and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes until lentils are tender.
Add coconut milk: Stir in the coconut milk, curry powder, and salt. Simmer for another 5 minutes to meld flavors.
Blend (Optional): For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender to blend half or all of the soup. Alternatively, mash some lentils with a spoon.
Serve: Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Serve with crusty bread or naan.

Notes

Rinse lentils well to remove dust. Use full-fat coconut milk for creaminess. The soup thickens in the fridge; add water or broth when reheating. It freezes well for up to 3 months. For a spicy version, add cayenne or red pepper flakes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian-Inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl with optional
Calories: 280
Sugar: 6
Sodium: 600
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 8
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 8
Protein: 12

Keywords: vegan, lentil soup, coconut curry, kid-friendly, family recipe, healthy dinner, gluten-free, plant-based