Spicy Tomato Lentil Soup
January 1st, 2013
Haaaaappy Neeeeeew Yeeeeeear!!!!
I hope that you are all happy and healthy and snuggled up on a couch somewhere with the people that you love.
Whether you are just hanging out and resting up or sleeping off a “too good” night, I have the fastest, easiest soup that will rock your world. When you hear the name, Spicy Tomato Lentil Soup you probably won’t believe me, but I seriously ate 2/3rds of the pot myself. I am not proud.
I am do not typically turn to pre-made foods to make meals, but a recent trip to trader joe’s was pretty inspiring. I found a few things that that I am obsessing over right now, and one of them is precooked lentils.
And while I used homemade tomato soup as the base of this, Trader Joes and most other grocery stores these days carry good quality tomato soup in boxes that are in the perfect amount!
I thickened the soup with some leftover jasmine rice, but if you wanted to skip it, that is totally fine too.
In the end it sort of reminded me of Indian takeout. I mean that in a really good way. But I can already feel that I am not doing this any justice, so I will just quit babbling and give you the recipe. Just please trust me. 20 minutes to delicious!
In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat and add the onion, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the melted butter. Sprinkle with a little kosher salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato soup and stir to combine. Let simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
Add the lentils and stir well.
Add the cooked rice and stir well.
Add the curry powder and then season with kosher salt to taste.
Serve hot.
Recipe: Spicy Tomato Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- -1 tablespoon butter
- -½ yellow onion, diced
- -1 clove garlic, minced
- -½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- -4 cups tomato soup (homemade or boxed)
- -1 ½ cups cooked lentils (I used the steamed cooked lentils from Trader Joes)
- -1 ½ cups cooked white rice (I used Jasmine rice)
- -1 ½ tablespoons curry powder
- -Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- 1. In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat and add the onion, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the melted butter. Sprinkle with a little kosher salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- 2. Add the tomato soup and stir to combine. Let simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
- 3. Add the lentils and stir well.
- 4. Add the cooked rice and stir well.
- 5. Add the curry powder and then season with kosher salt to taste.
- 6. Serve hot.
Preparation time: 5 minute(s)
Cooking time: 15 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 4
This looks so fabulous!
6:58 am on January 1st, 2013
Thanks Katrina!
7:53 am on January 1st, 2013
This looks delicious! Thanks for the tip about TJ’s pre-cooked lentils. I have an irrational hatred of cooking dried beans, and am all about using canned/pre-cooked ones! Happy New Year, Heather!
12:58 pm on January 1st, 2013
You too Maggie! (I feel the same way!)
2:02 pm on January 1st, 2013
Why wouldn’t you eat the whole pot of soup yourself? It’s not only pretty and yummy, it’s healthy too!
4:21 pm on January 1st, 2013
T.J’,s is the perfect place for cooking inspiration! I don’t know if I’ll ever use pre-cooked lentils since I’m so well stocked on dried ones but I DO know that I can’t wait to cozy up to this soup!
4:51 pm on January 1st, 2013
Love tomato soup – love lentils – win win!! Thanks for sharing!!
5:00 pm on January 1st, 2013
ha! thanks Kari- that makes it better that you understand. Right! of course I ate the whole pot. groooannn.
5:35 pm on January 1st, 2013
Dried lentils are awesome. they are so cost efficient and last forever. I think when I don’t do the pre-cooked variety that it would be great to make a large batch and leave them in the fridge to use in lots of dishes. TJ’s was amazing the other day when I walked through there- I was most inspired by the lentils and steamed artichoke hearts which are miraculous to me! I think there will be many Trader Joes inspired posts in the near future here!
5:39 pm on January 1st, 2013
Thanks Leisha!!
5:39 pm on January 1st, 2013
This is exactly the kind of soup I was craving today…something healthy that would warm me up. Happy New Year!
8:30 pm on January 1st, 2013
Great recipe – so, if i don’t use the precooked lentils but dried instead, how long do you think this should cook?
12:54 pm on January 2nd, 2013
Hi Kim! I would totally pre-cook the lentils first and then add them. Just follow the package directions.
2:07 pm on January 2nd, 2013
[...] good lookin’ soup recipes to visit on these delicious food blogs: Spicy Tomato- Lentil Soup by Heather Christo Cooks Winter Mexican- Corn Soup by Verses From My Kitchen Pot Likker Soup by Add [...]
3:01 am on January 7th, 2013
I made this today. It was really good!. Quite spicy and perfect for this cold winter day.
11:30 am on January 13th, 2013
[...] Spicy Tomato Lentil Soup Classic comfort food doesn’t get much better than tomato soup. This recipe uses lentils to pump up the nutritional value and add great flavor. [...]
10:30 am on January 18th, 2013
Just finished making this soup. It’s amazing to say the least. You can’t describe it in words, liquid comfort. I added kale to give it some green. A little like saag. Very yummy!
2:37 pm on January 27th, 2013
Thank you SO MUCH jazzy!! glad you love the soup!
3:04 pm on January 27th, 2013
Wife and I made this soup last night. Fantastic! Turned out thicker than a typical soup; more like an Indian vegetable curry. We doubled the amounts of garlic and onion (’cause we love ‘em) and opted to use a Hot Curry Powder. WHEW! Fiery hot, so next time we will opt for a milder curry — but we are definitely going to prepare this again, probably many times. Just great! Thanks for the recipe.
2:47 pm on January 28th, 2013
So glad that you liked it! yes- it is a little thicker than usual- it more like a stew or curry- but I love it so much!!
4:17 pm on January 28th, 2013
[...] is a recipe which I found on Pinterest. Pinterest is pretty much my new love these days, for the simple reason [...]
10:56 am on February 5th, 2013
[...] Heather Christo Serves 6 Printable [...]
5:00 am on February 6th, 2013
We made this soup this weekend…twice. It’s A) the easiest soup ever and B) ridiculously delicious. We had serious negotiations about who got to eat the leftovers.
1:51 pm on February 11th, 2013
YAY Leslie!!!!! you just made my day :)
2:01 pm on February 11th, 2013
[...] Tomato Lentil Soup via Heather Christo Cooks Doctored tomato [...]
6:40 am on March 15th, 2013
Oh my heavens yes! 20 minutes to yum! And you can even get the jasmine rice in the freezer section at TJ too!
1:35 pm on April 6th, 2013
Ok back for a review! This recipe is so incredibly flavorful and easy and super fast! You knocked it out of the park again Heather! Definitely going to keep these staples on hands for nights when there is just no time to cook and also upon returns from vacation. Thanks!
9:52 am on April 19th, 2013
Is this the soup Madison liked?
9:58 am on April 25th, 2013
Yes!! and it is Trader Joes tastic!!
10:56 am on April 25th, 2013