French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (2024)

This French Carrot Lentil Soup recipe is hearty, flavorful, and loaded with delicious vegetables. Made with red lentils, carrots, onions, and French spices, this soup is easy to meal prep! Vegan, gluten free, and high protein.

I love a bright, creamy, flavorful, hearty plant-based soup – and this recipe hits all the marks. Its velvety and creamy, and surprisingly hearty for a pureed soup. The red lentils and the carrots are the absolute stars of this simple dish.

We are year-round soup lovers, I make two big batches of soup for our lunches every week! I love that its super easy to meal prep, and I enjoy coming up with new ways to enjoy pantry staples like lentils, beans, rice, and pasta. Chunky, hearty soups are my go-to but wanted to try something a little more creamy and this lentil and carrot soup was born!

I love the French flavors in this soup- Herbes de Provence is one of my favorite spice blends (a mix of thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, and oregano) I use it in tons of recipes. Its the star of my Coconut Cream of Mushroom soup and our weeknight favorite Roasted Root Vegetables with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette.

This French Carrot Lentil Soup Is:

  • Packed with Flavor
  • Made with whole, simple ingredients (and some pantry staples!)
  • Creamy and velvety
  • Filling until dinner
  • Vegan and Gluten-Free

What’s In This Simple Carrot Lentil Soup?

I get fresh produce from my garden and from Misfits Market– they sell fantastic fruit, vegetables, & pantry staples at a discounted price. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out favorite produce for delivery. Get $10 off your first box here!

  • Red Lentils: I’d recommend red lentils over other varieties of lentil for this soup. I always have red lentils on hand for recipes. They are great to throw into soups, stews, and even chilis for a little extra protein!
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Vegetable Stock or Bouillon: I use Better than Bouillon’s Vegetable Base in all my recipes, because its reduced sodium and has an amazing flavor. I’d recommend a low or no sodium stock, so you can add your own salt to this dish instead!
  • Onion
  • Bay Leaves: a great addition to this dish, I always add bay leaves to my soups! When I used to live in California I had bay laurel trees in my backyard and would collect the dried leaves and cook with them. Always a great flavor addition to soups!
  • Herbs De Provence: give this dish a sophisticated flavor.Herbs deProvenceis a French spice blend of thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, and sage. It’s probably THE most used spice in my kitchen – you can get a jar of Herbs de Provencefor a few bucks on Amazonif you don’t have any already. I highly recommend this spice blend.
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Coconut Cream:to stir in for a silky finish. I like a full-fat coconut cream, which makes this soup really extra! if you eat dairy you can also add a dollop of crème fraiche or Greek yogurt instead.

Quick Cooking Soups Anytime

I’ve been cooking tons of pantry staple recipes lately, and have stocked way up on red lentils. They are an amazing source of plant protein and are packed with flavor.

I also love that red lentils cook so quickly – unlike other beans, these lentils can be cooked through on the stove top in about 30 minutes. No soaking or overnight prep required!

Pantry Lentil Soup Recipes for the WIN!

As you can see from the ingredients list, this is a pretty simple recipe that requires a few pantry staple spices, lentils, and produce. I always always always have a stash of carrots, onions, and garlic in our fridge.

No matter what I plan to make for the week, I always keep those 3 vegetables on hand. They last a long time in the fridge, go great in almost any meal, and are inexpensive to buy in bulk. My list of has some great ideas to cook with what is in your cupboards.

Easy Meal Prep Soups

This soup was so awesome to meal prep for a week of work lunches. Its easy to cook for #MealPrepSunday, requires little hands-on cooking time, and is packed with filling plant protein.

I tend to get a little snack-y in the late afternoon, and this soup was hearty enough to keep me full until dinner time! Which doesn’t happen too often. If you are having for dinner or planning to serve for company, it can easily be made ahead too, and reheated right before serving.

How Do I Make This Vegan French Carrot Lentil Soup?

Dietary Modifications

While this soup is naturally vegan and gluten-free, you can easily make this oil free by substituting the olive oil for vegetable stock.

If you aren’t vegan and you eat dairy, you can skip the coconut cream or cashew cream garnish and stir in crème fraiche or Greek yogurt.

More Hearty Vegan Soup Recipes You’ll Love!

Coconut Milk Cream of Mushroom Soup (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Mango Black Bean Chili (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Sweet Potato (Vegan, GF, Whole30)

Mason Jar Instant Ramen Noodle Soup (Vegan, Low Sodium, Gluten-Free)

Vegan Ribolitta; Tuscan Kale and White Bean Soup (Vegan, GF Option)

Share This Vegan Lentil and Carrot Soup Recipe

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French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (6)

French Carrot Lentil Soup

French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (7)Kelly Jensen

This French Carrot Lentil Soup is hearty, filling, and packed with vegetables. Made with red lentils, carrots, onions, and French spices, this soup is easy to meal prep!

4.96 from 22 votes

Print Recipe Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American, French

Servings 6

Calories 287 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven, or heavy lidded pot

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the onion and saute on low for 7 or 8 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Add the carrots, celery, onions, red lentils, bay leaves, Herbes De Provance, and Vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer the soup for 30 minutes until the red lentils are cooked through and the carrots soften.

  • Remove bay leaves, and with an immersion blender, blend the soup until it is completely smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, then puree small batches in a normal blender.

  • Serve warm with a dollop of coconut cream, cashew cream, or Craime Fraishe and a sprinkle of fresh thyme.

Notes

Save Money on Organic Produce!

I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can get $10 off your first box by clicking here!

If you think organic produce is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a look!

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 16gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 1809mgPotassium: 808mgFiber: 21gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 11088IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 6mg

Keyword Carrot Lentil Soup, Carrot Lentil Soup Vegan, French Lentil Carrot Soup, lentil soup with carrots, Oil Free French Lentil Soup

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French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (2024)

FAQs

Why is my lentil soup not thick? ›

Cook It Longer

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

Does lentil soup fill you up? ›

Lentils are a carbohydrate, but it's slow burning which means it keeps you fuller for longer. Studies also suggest that lentils are good for heart health. The added benefit is that they are low in calories with 116 calories in 1 cup of cooked lentils (which is roughly the amount per serving of this lentil soup).

Do lentils get soggy in soup? ›

Just watch the cooking time carefully as they can get mushy if overcooked.

What does carrot soup contain? ›

Ingredients
  • 4 cups chopped carrots.
  • 3 cups fat-free chicken broth.
  • ½ onion, sliced.
  • water to cover.
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed.
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme.
  • ½ teaspoon dried tarragon.
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream.
Sep 8, 2023

Why is my lentil soup tasteless? ›

Why does my lentil soup taste bland? Lentils have a relatively mild taste and take well to seasonings. To avoid a bland lentil soup, use a flavorful broth—whether that's homemade or store-bought chicken or vegetable broth. The other key is building flavor.

Should I soak lentils before making soup? ›

The other good news: Lentils don't need to soak as beans do (though you do need to sort and rinse them before cooking). Different types of lentils cook in different amounts of time. Red lentils are the fastest cooking and they dissolve as they cook and make for a smooth soup.

Is lentil soup good for losing belly fat? ›

3. Get rid of that spare tire: In a recent 18-month study, folks who enjoyed lots of pulses (edible seeds of leguminous plants) like lentils lost more belly weight! Their fibre intake was higher, vitamins and minerals like chromium were better maintained, and the glycemic index of their meals was lower.

Is it okay to eat lentil soup everyday? ›

Eating half a cup of cooked lentils gives you lots of essential nutrients and their high fiber content makes you feel full. However, the fiber in lentils can be hard for your body to break down. Eating too many lentils can cause gas, bloating, and cramping.

Why does lentil soup make me sleepy? ›

Everyone's heard of tryptophan – an amino acid most commonly associated with post-Thanksgiving-turkey naps. But tryptophan is actually found in many protein-rich foods including lentils, and complex carbohydrates work with your metabolism to allow the tryptophan to work most effectively to help you sleep.

Which color lentils are best for soup? ›

Red lentils are best for soups, curries, dals, and anything that craves a creamy, thicker, more comforting touch.

Can you overcook lentil soup? ›

Mushy, overcooked lentils are far from tasty. Cooking them at a rapid simmer can lead to them splitting their skins from the pressure and thus lead to mushy results. Follow this tip: Trust that a gentle simmer will cook the lentils perfectly.

What is the foam on top of lentil soup? ›

That means the foam will typically appear when making meat-based broths and, to a lesser degree, soups made from high-protein vegetables such as chickpeas and lentils. When those coagulated proteins cluster together, they can create air pockets, which is what causes the “sudsy bubbles,” says Trout.

Do you need to peel carrots for carrot soup? ›

"If [the carrot] is smooth and can easily be scrubbed, then I don't bother to peel, if using in a soup or stir fry," she says. Blanchard points out another benefit of not peeling carrots: less food waste. Whether you leave carrots unpeeled or choose to peel them is mostly a matter of preference.

When should you add carrots to soup? ›

Overcooking the vegetables

Let's say you're making white bean soup. Start by sautéing onions, garlic, maybe celery, then adding the water and beans, and simmering. Add the carrots in the last half hour or so or when the beans are close to tender. That way the carrots will come out cooked but not mushy.

Should you cook carrots before putting them in soup? ›

While certain vegetables can work just fine added directly to simmering soups and stews (say, carrots and celery), other vegetables (onions, garlic, and the like) will almost always need at least a brief sweat in a fat-based liquid before adding the remaining ingredients.

How to thicken up lentil soup? ›

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

How to use lentils to thicken soup? ›

Mash beans, lentils, rice, or bread.

Rice, lentils, and beans release a lot of starch and naturally thicken soups simply from simmering, but you can also mash half the cooked rice/lentils/beans before adding to the soup for a simple way to thicken your dish.

How do you thicken watery lentils? ›

You can thicken lentils by simmering it a little more or adding a table spoon of cream ( malai) into it…. You gotta thicken it during the cooking process, not after. Add natural yogurt a little at a time. Add corn flour-water slurry at end stage.

How long do lentils take to thicken soup? ›

1c lentils & 2c water will make 2–3 cups very thick soup. Add a bay leaf and simmer for 30–40 minutes, depending on the type of lentil. You may need to add water or veggie broth to make it the consistency you like.

References

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