Go Back

Silky Golden Lentil Soup with Fragrant Spices and Winter Root Vegetables

Silky Golden Lentil Soup with Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Celery, Turnip, Ginger, & Garlic. A delicious one-pot meal for the whole family.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Indian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tsp brown mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 6 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 cup yellow onion chopped
  • 2 cups butternut squash cubed
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger root peeled and chopped
  • 1 15 oz can cherry tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cup murasaki sweet potato chopped
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • 1 cup carrot chopped
  • 1/2 cup turnip chopped
  • 1/2 cup dried golden lentils
  • 3 cups vegetable stock
  • 1-2 cups water as needed
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro for serving (optional)
  • 1 lemon sliced for serving (optional)

Method
 

  1. Place mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and cumin seeds in the bottom of a large stockpot. Dry toast over medium heat for 1 minute until spices are fragrant.
  2. Once spices are fragrant add 2 tbsp of vegetable stock.
  3. Add onion, garlic, butternut squash, ginger, tomatoes, sweet potato, celery, carrots, and turnip. Cook for 5-8 minutes.
  4. Add remaining vegetable stock, lentils, 1 cup of water and 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes (optional).
  5. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 40 minutes until lentils are soft and have started to break down.
  6. Remove from heat and transfer to a high speed blender. Working in batches, blend until silky smooth.
  7. Return soup to the pot. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and red chili flakes. If soup is too thick add more water or stock.
Serving Suggestions
  1. Garnish each bowl with fresh cilantro, lemon slices, and serve with pita or naan bread.

Notes

*This recipe was inspired by Laura Wright's cookbook A First Mess root vegetable dal.