Delicious Orange Lentil Soup Recipe

Spanish soup recipes often rely on fresh, staple ingredients, but only some of them know how to blend all of those savory ingredients in just one dish.

The orange lentil soup is the best example of this: it has tomatoes, onion, garlic, and olive oil, all harmoniously combined to create a flavorful and comforting bowl of soup that captures the essence of Spanish cuisine.

Keep reading this article to learn how to make lentil soup from scratch, with some expert tips on storing, serving, and customizing the ingredients of this recipe.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish soup recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Lentil soup with ham bone

• Gluten-free chicken noodle soup

• Alphabet soup

Background of the Dish

Thanks to its commercial trading with the Middle East -which has been going on for centuries- Andalusia is the region of Spain that has contributed the most to the creation of recipes with legumes, such as the Spanish baked bean soup or the Spanish bean tomato soup.

The orange lentil soup gained popularity among them due to its creamy consistency, delicious flavor, and nutritious profile, quickly becoming a cherished staple in Spanish households and beyond.

You may be wondering: is lentil soup healthy? The answer is yes, as it is packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making it a wholesome choice for anyone looking to boost their intake of plant-based nutrients.

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Things You’ll Need for Orange Lentil Soup

To make this orange lentil soup you will need orange lentils, carrots, onion, garlic cloves, tomato, olive oil, tomato paste, and vegetable or chicken broth.

Similar to other Spanish lentil soup recipes, the only equipment that you will need is a large pot and an immersion blender (or a regular one) to reach the creamy texture.

Ingredients

• 6 cups (960ml) vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 cup (250gr) dry orange lentils (soak overnight)
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 tomato
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil for sautéing
• Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish (optional)

How to Make Orange Lentil Soup – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with this creamy lentil soup recipe, you have to soak the lentils in a pot covered with water the night before (or for at least 10 hours). Then, rinse and drain once they are ready to be used and set them aside.

2. After that, it is time to prepare the veggies. For that, peel and chop the onion, bell pepper, carrots, and tomato into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Set everything aside.

3. Now, using a large pot, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, garlic, and red bell pepper. Sauté until the vegetables get a soft texture, which should take about 7 minutes.

4. Then it is time to add the spices and seasonings. So, stir in the smoked paprika, ground cumin, tomato paste, and bay leaf. Cook for another minute until the spices are fragrant.

5. Next, add the rinsed orange lentils and diced tomato to the pot. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.

6. To continue with this Spanish soup recipe, season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. You can adjust the seasoning according to your preference. 

7. After that, blend a portion of the soup using an immersion blender or by transferring a portion to a blender and blending until smooth, for a creamier result. Be careful when blending, as the orange lentil soup will be hot.

8. To finish this hearty lentil soup recipe, pour it into bowls. If desired, you can garnish each orange lentil soup bowl with fresh parsley or cilantro and serve it hot.

Substitution of Ingredients

To embrace the tradition of this recipe for Mediterranean lentil soup, you can stick to adding classic regional ingredients -that aren’t listed-, like parsley, basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, olive, rosemary, etc.

The orange lentil soup is one of the best vegan lentil soup recipes, as long as you use vegetable broth because the creaminess comes from the natural starches released by the lentils as they cook, creating a velvety texture without the need for dairy products.

However, if you don’t follow a vegan diet then feel free to use chicken broth, or even 1/2 cup of heavy cream in the last 10 minutes of cooking to make it richer.

You can also turn it into a bacon or Spanish lentil soup with chorizo recipe, by including chopped and pan-fried bacon and chorizo, or try the Spanish lentil soup with potatoes.

Do you want to try Spanish soup recipes with different flavor profiles? Then you must check our simple Spanish pea soup, or the mesmerizing leek and butternut squash soup.

Tips on Serving Orange Lentil Soup

This orange lentil soup is the perfect blend of earthy lentils, vibrant vegetables, and aromatic spices, and you can enhance the flavors and textures by drawing inspiration from different Spanish soup recipes.

First, to take the orange lentil soup to the next level you can top it with chopped olives, grated parmesan cheese, or chopped and toasted nuts.

For example, similar to the glass noodle soup, you can add your favorite portion of cooked pasta -egg noodles, spaghetti, angel hair- and mix them with the creamy soup.

If you aren’t going for a vegan version, then you can copy the Spanish bacon bean soup and serve this fantastic soup with bacon bits, or with other Spanish meats like chorizo and Serrano ham.

Besides that, with this recipe for lentil vegetable soup, you will have a fantastic main dish, but you can turn it into a side one or an appetizer by adjusting the serving size to a smaller bowl.

How to Store Orange Lentil Soup

Once you finish making the recipe for Spanish soup, allow it to cool to room temperature, which should take from 30 to 60 minutes, and then place it in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

After that, you can store the orange lentil soup in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months, then thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.

To reheat the orange lentil soup, pour it into a saucepan, place it over medium heat, and stir occasionally until the soup is heated through, otherwise, ladle it into a covered microwave-safe bowl and microwave it on high in 1-minute increments, stirring between each interval.

Are you looking for more authentic Spanish soup recipes that can be stored both in the fridge or freezer?

Then we encourage you to check the hearty Spanish bean soup with chorizo, the famous Spanish leek and celery soup, or the delicious chicken soup without noodles.

Recipe Card: Orange Lentil Soup

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