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One-Pot Coconut Lentil Soup — Indian-inspired Soups & Stews recipe, 30 min, serves 4Indian-inspired

One-Pot Coconut Lentil Soup

Published ·Updated ·by ·✓ Editorially Reviewed
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KetoLow carbGluten-freeVegetarian

Red lentils in coconut milk with warming spices. Red lentils break down completely during cooking, creating natural thickness without blending.

30
min
5
prep
🔥
25
cook
👥
4
servings
350
kcal / serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

1

Sauté onion, garlic, ginger 3 min.

3:00
2

Add spices, stir 30 sec.

💡 Toasting spices in oil releases flavor.
3

Add lentils, coconut milk, broth. Boil, then simmer 20-25 min until lentils broken down.

22:00
4

Stir in lime juice. Season.

5

Serve with naan or rice.

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Common Questions

Too thick?
Add more broth. Red lentils absorb liquid as they sit.
Can I halve this recipe?
Yes. Halve all ingredients. Cook time stays roughly the same for air fryer recipes; reduce slightly for stovetop.
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, double all ingredients. You may need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. Don't double cooking time — check doneness at the original time.
My pasta is undercooked but the liquid is gone?
Add a splash of hot water or broth (50-100ml), stir, and continue cooking covered. This happens when heat was too high and liquid evaporated before pasta finished.
Can I prep this ahead of time?
You can chop vegetables ahead. Don't cook the pasta ahead — it overcooks when rewarmed. Cook from scratch for best results.
Stuck to the bottom of the pot?
Stir more frequently, reduce heat slightly, or add a small splash of liquid. Heavy-bottomed pots distribute heat more evenly and reduce sticking.

What to drink with this

🍷
Wine
Off-dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer.
🍺
Beer
Kingfisher or any malty Indian lager.
🍸
Cocktail
Mango lassi with rum.
🥤
Non-alcoholic
Mango lassi or masala chai.
The story behind this recipe ▾
Red lentils are split and hulled, cooking in 15-25 min. Without hull, starch gelatinizes quickly and lentil disintegrates, thickening naturally. Turmeric's curcumin is fat-soluble — cooking in oil improves absorption.
This recipe is for inspiration only. We do not provide food safety, storage, or nutritional advice. Always follow your local food safety guidelines. Check all ingredients for allergens.
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