Lentils and Sweet Potato Soup is more than just a good soup; it’s a bowl full of goodness. It’ll warm you up during soup season in the cold winter months, but it’s also a great healthy soup recipe that can be enjoyed any time of year. This one-pot, easy lentil and sweet potato soup recipe is nutritious and delicious. Plus, the recipe is so versatile and can easily cater to a gluten-free or vegan diet, so it’s great for dinner guests with specific needs and it’s perfect for a hearty lunch, a light dinner, a side dish, or a starter for a dinner party. We like to enjoy it with a crisp side salad and freshly baked bread, yum! For more delicious recipes for comforting soups, check out my Broccoli Cheese Soup, Creamy Tomato Basil Soup, Zuppa Toscana Soup, and this Cheesy Lasagna Soup.
Why We Love This Recipe
This sweet potato and lentil soup recipe can be easily customized to suit your flavor preferences, and you can adapt it to use up veggie leftovers too! It’s a great recipe that’s ready from scratch in just an hour, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights or for when you need a comforting meal without much effort. As it’s a one-pot recipe, there’s minimal clean-up!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Dry Lentils – The star of the soup, lentils are a great source of protein and fiber. You can use different types of lentils, such as red lentils, brown, or French green lentils, for other textures and flavors. Onion & Garlic – A yellow onion and freshly minced garlic cloves will provide aromatic, savory flavors to the base of the soup. Sweet Potato – Use a large sweet potato for this soup. It’ll add a natural sweetness and creaminess to the soup. Carrots – They add a slight sweetness and lots of nutrients. Vegetable Stock – Forms the soup base, can be replaced with veggie broth for a different flavor profile or chicken stock or broth for a different flavor or if you aren’t trying to make this a vegetarian soup recipe. Olive Oil – Used for sautéing, it adds richness to the dish. Spinach – Fresh spinach leaves will add color, texture, and a host of vitamins and minerals. Tomatoes – Chop some fresh tomatoes to add a bit of acidity and freshness, balancing the sweetness of the sweet potatoes. Seasoning – A combination of smoked paprika (one of our all-time favorite spices), bay leaves, dried oregano, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper adds a ton of flavor and warmth in the soup. Parsley – Use fresh parsley for a fresh finish that also adds color and extra flavor. Cheese (optional) – Use freshly grated parmesan cheese to add a salty, umami flavor to the soup.
How to Make Sweet Potato Lentil Soup
Tips for Success
Choose a different type of lentil for your soup. Brown or green lentils will maintain their shape well and offer a pleasant bite, whereas red lentils tend to break down more, thickening the soup. One of the best tricks to learn for making flavorful soup is to not rush sautéing the vegetables. This step develops the flavors, ensuring a rich and deep taste in the soup. The onions should be translucent, and the carrots should slightly caramelize when they’re ready. Season the soup gradually, starting with a small amount of salt and spices, then adjust to taste towards the end of cooking. The flavors will deepen and develop over time, so it’s best to be conservative initially.
Substitutions and Variations
Try using butternut squash or regular potatoes instead of sweet potatoes for a different flavor and texture. Garnish the soup with your favorite fresh herbs, cream, or other add-ins for a different flavor. Fresh cilantro, heavy cream, coconut cream, a dash of lemon juice, or some lime juice would add extra flavor to the soup. Give your soup a little kick by adding in some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, chili powder, or a dash of your favorite hot sauce! If you do this, you can serve your soup with a dollop of sour cream to balance out the flavors.
More Soup Recipes to Try
Easy Cheesy Taco Soup Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage Smoked Salmon Chowder Classic Beef Stew Chicken Noodle and Dumpling Soup San Francisco Cioppino Seafood Stew
We also love soup and grilled cheese, so try this recipe with my Grilled Caprese Panini, a Classic Ruben Sandwich, or even this Grilled Cheesy Garlic Bread!
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Easy Minestrone Soup
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
