Middle Eastern Spinach Lentil Soup

Name: Middle Eastern Spinach Lentil Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: World
Ingredients: Olive oil 2 tbsp; Onion 1; Carrots 1; Garlic clove 3; Chili flakes 1 tsp; Salt; Black pepper; Cumin 2 tsp; Sweet paprika 2 tsp; Tomato paste 1 tbsp; Red lentils 1 ¼ cups; Vegetable stock 1 ½ qts; Tomatoes 3; Spinach 14 oz; Lemon 1; Greek yogurt ½ cup; Garlic 2 cloves; Olive oil 1 tbsp

with garlic yogurt topping

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40m
Serves 6
Easy
(1)

Ingredients

	2 tbsp Olive oil
	1 Onion large, finely chopped
	1 Carrots large, finely chopped
	3 Garlic clove minced
	1 tsp Chili flakes
	Salt to taste
	Black pepper to taste
	2 tsp Cumin
	2 tsp Sweet paprika
	1 tbsp Tomato paste
	1 ¼ cups Red lentils 250 g, rinsed and drained
	1 ½ qts Vegetable stock 1 ½ liters
	3 Tomatoes vine-ripened, diced
	14 oz Spinach washed, dried, large stalks removed, sliced
	1 Lemon cut into wedges, for serving
	For garlic yogurt topping:
	½ cup Greek yogurt or natural
	2 cloves Garlic small, minced
	1 tbsp Olive oil

Nutritional information

196

Calories

Fat

23g

Carbohydrates

12g

Protein

Fiber

300mg

Sodium

Cuisine:

Ingredients

2 tbsp Olive oil
1 Onion
large, finely chopped
1 Carrots
large, finely chopped
3 Garlic clove
minced
1 tsp Chili flakes
Salt
to taste
Black pepper
to taste
2 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Sweet paprika
1 tbsp Tomato paste
1 ¼ cups Red lentils
250 g, rinsed and drained
1 ½ qts Vegetable stock
1 ½ liters
3 Tomatoes
vine-ripened, diced
14 oz Spinach
washed, dried, large stalks removed, sliced
1 Lemon
cut into wedges, for serving
For garlic yogurt topping:
½ cup Greek yogurt
or natural
2 cloves Garlic
small, minced
1 tbsp Olive oil

Middle Eastern Spinach Lentil Soup

This Middle Eastern Spinach Lentil Soup is so easy and so good. It takes less than one hour to make, and it’s nutritious, vegetarian-friendly, and economical. What’s not to love? Aside from the wholesome lentils and spinach, this flavorful soup is packed with healthy vegetables like onions, carrots, tomatoes, and garlic. Instead of flavoring the soup with classic herbs, it is flavored with cumin, paprika, and chili pepper. It’s a spicy, bold, savory combo, and I enjoy the twist. Serve topped with a spoonful of garlic yogurt (super-simple recipe included) for an extra special hit of creaminess.

The recipe calls for vegetable stock. If you are tight on time, it’s always fine to use your favorite store-bought stock. But to really impart flavor, try your hand at making your own stock. For a non-vegetarian version, use chicken stock or broth.

To make the Middle Eastern Spinach Lentil Soup, you will need the following ingredients:

Steps to make Middle Eastern Spinach Lentil Soup

1	Saute onions, carrots, and garlic	10
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons olive, then add the finely chopped onion, carrots, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon chili flakes, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Stir, then cover with a lid and cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 7-8 minutes until tender and lightly golden.
2	Add cumin and paprika	30s
Add 2 teaspoons ground cumin and 2 teaspoons sweet paprika and stir for a few seconds.
3	Add tomato paste	1
Stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
4	Add lentils and stock	20
Add in 1 ¼ cups lentils and 1 ½ quarts stock, stir, and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
5	Prepare garlic yogurt topping	1
Meanwhile, stir together ½ cup Greek yogurt, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Chill until ready to serve
6	Add tomatoes	5
Add 3 diced tomatoes to the soup and simmer for 5 minutes more.
7	Add in spinach	2
Add in the sliced spinach and cook until wilted. Season the soup with salt and black pepper to taste.
8	Serve
Ladle the soup in bowls and serve topped with a spoonful of garlic yogurt and lemon wedges for squeezing over.

Give this Middle Eastern Spinach Lentil Soup recipe a try, and share it using the hashtag #cookmerecipes or by tagging @cookmerecipes on Instagram! We love seeing what you’ve made!

Bethany Lim

Bethany is very passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and clean diet. She’s trying to cut meat out of her diet as much as possible and focuses on cooking vegetarian food and fish. Bethany gets a kick from finding ways to add new twists to classic dishes. What’s more, thanks to her Asian roots, she’s great at combining different cuisines to come up with something extraordinary. Bethany’s recipes will inspire you to add new colors and flavors to your everyday meals.