Yemeni Red Lentil Soup – Bold, Comforting, and Packed with Flavor
A hearty Middle Eastern soup that we can’t stop eating
This Yemeni Red Lentil Soup is everything you want in a cozy, comforting bowl — hearty, healthy, and packed with bold Middle Eastern flavor. Made with protein-rich red lentils and a fragrant Yemeni spice blend, it’s an easy one-pot dish that delivers big on taste without much effort. Earthy, vibrant, and naturally vegan, this soup is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy winter weekends.
Want to level it up? Stir in a spoonful of our Souper Spice — a Middle Eastern mix inspired by Yemeni Hawaij. It adds warmth, depth, and a golden glow from turmeric. Whether you serve it with warm pita or a simple salad, this is a feel-good soup you’ll come back to again and again.
- Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free
- , Veggies
- , Soups & Stews, Grains & Legumes
- , Middle Eastern
Prep Time:
25 minutes
Cook Time:
30-40 minutes
Serves:
6-8 ppl
Ingredients
Olive oil
1 onion
2-4 carrots
3-4 celery sticks
4 garlic cloves
2-3 potatoes
1.5 Tbsp Souper Spice (or other Hawaii mix – see below)
2.5 tsp salt
Black pepper
2 cups red lentils, sorted and rinsed
8 cups vegetable broth (or water, or a mix of both)
Optional: 1/4-1/2 tsp spicy paprika or Cayenne
Directions
1. Chop the vegetables into small pieces, not much bigger than the lentils. Cover your pot with olive oil, warm up, and sauté the vegetables for 10 minutes.
2. Add all spices to the vegetables: Souper Spice (Hawaii or your own mix – see below), salt, some black pepper, and spicy paprika/cayenne if using. Mix well.
3. Add your rinsed lentils and 8 cups of liquids (or water, or a mix of both) and bring to boil.
4. Once boiling, lower to low heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the lentils are soft. Check after 20 min and adjust spices, mainly the salt. If you’re losing too much liquid, cover the pot mid-simmering so it doesn’t get too thick.
5. Once lentils are soft, taste again, add a bit of salt if needed. Serve and enjoy!
Note: if you don’t have any blend, you can mix your own: turmeric, cumin, cardamom, paprika, coriander, and garlic powder
In This Recipe
