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Lentil Rice Soup – A hearty, flavorful, protein packed and veggie loaded soup sure to warm your belly and your soul.
Just want to let you know that this post is sponsored by Lotus Foods. All content and opinions are my own.
It’s a weeknight, it’s cold out, you’re tired and the kids are cranky. (No? Just me?) You are craving a big bowl of warm hearty soup, but that would take hours, right? No! I know your grandmother used to simmer soup all day long, but it’s really just not necessary. This Lentil Rice Soup will take you about 50 minutes, but the majority of that is hands off time. Perfect amount of time to help the kids with their homework while this simmers away on the stove. Packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, this soup will warm your belly and your soul.
Hearty Lentil Soup
Growing up, my mom was always the cook in our family (except for homemade pizza…I remember my dad doing that), but it’s my dad’s thoughts on food that I remember the most. He likes his food HOT – “if I’m not sweating, it’s not hot enough.” And I specifically remember two things about soup – if it’s potato soup it needs lots of celery salt and any kind of soup better be thick! None of those thin brothy soups for him. “If my spoon doesn’t stand up in it, it’s not thick enough.” LOL! Isn’t it funny the things we remember? I tried the spoon trick in this Lentil Rice Soup and it just about worked!! This is a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs lentil soup recipe! If you like your soup on the thinner side, never fear, a few extra cups of veggie broth will do the trick.
About Lotus Foods
I’ve been meaning to make a soup like this for quite some time, so when I was contacted by Meatless Monday, who teamed up with Lotus Foods, and asked me try out some of Lotus Foods’ product, I knew immediately what I would be making. The rice I used was their Organic Volcano Rice, which is a blend of Sintanur brown rice, whole grain red rice and lightly milled red rice. Focused on sustainable global agriculture, all of U.S. based Lotus Foods’ rice comes from small family rice farmers in developing countries. I really like what this company stands for and they have quite a variety of delicious rice products available, including Rice Ramen.
Cook Once, Eat Twice
This recipe makes a big pot of soup, so lucky for you leftovers taste just as amazing. Pack it up in a thermos and take it to work or send it in your child’s lunchbox. It does continue to thicken up as it sits (your welcome, Dad!) so you may need to add a cup or so of broth or water when you reheat.
Grab a hunk of crusty bread to eat alongside this flavorful, protein packed and veggie loaded soup. Comfort food at it’s best!
Lentil Rice Soup
I hope you love this Lentil Rice Soup as much as we do. If you try it, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I’m sure to see it. Enjoy!
- 1 onion (peeled and diced)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 3 stalks celery (diced)
- 3 carrots (peeled and diced)
- 1 cup dried green lentils (rinsed and picked over)
- 1 cup Lotus Foods Organic Volcano Rice (or brown rice)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp tamari (divided)
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp pepper (or to taste)
- 1 can no-salt added diced tomatoes
- 7-8 cups vegetable broth (depending on how thick you like it.) (If you like a thinner soup, you may want to add even more)
- Juice of 1-2 lemons (to taste)
- Saute the onion and garlic in 1/4 cup of vegetable broth for 5-7 minutes until tender.
- Add celery and carrots and cook another 5 minutes.
- Add lentils, rice, thyme, 1 tsp tamari, salt, pepper, tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30-40 minutes until lentils and rice are cooked through, but not mushy.
- Take off heat, site in remaining 1 tsp of tamari and the juice of 1-2 lemons (to taste).
- Serve hot.
~This soup will continue to thicken as it sits. Leftovers may need to be reheated with another cup or two of vegetable broth.
More Delicious Vegan Soups to Love:
Coconut Surry Soup w/ Sweet Potato Noodles
Lauren says
12/23/2018 at 8:16 pmAlso, how can I make this with brown rice and lentils that are already cooked? I have leftovers of each that i want to use in something.
Jenn S. says
12/24/2018 at 10:40 am1 cup dry lentils would equal about 2 cups cooked and 1 cup dry rice would equal about 3 cups cooked. If you have less than that, you can certainly scale this recipe down to fit your needs. Soup is a hard thing to screw up so you really can’t go wrong. Sauté the veggies per the directions in the recipe, then add everything else except the broth, including your already cooked rice and lentils. Then pour as much broth in as you want for the consistency you like. I would guess maybe 4-5 cups. You can always add more as it cooks. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes to heat through and give the flavors a chance to develop. Enjoy!
Lauren says
12/23/2018 at 8:14 pmHow many servings is the nutritional information refereing to? The whole thing?
Jenn S. says
12/24/2018 at 10:35 am1/8th of the full recipe.
Tom McAnnally says
11/11/2018 at 5:07 pm#veggieinspired Tried this, used red lentils since I didn’t have green and twice the tamari, and cooked it in a pressure cooker high pressure for 18 min. Came out great!
Jenn S. says
11/11/2018 at 8:25 pmWonderful! And glad to know it came out great in the IP! Thank you, Tom!
Hollyann says
01/22/2017 at 11:11 pmAdded a handful of kale to my batch and let it sit for 5 mins toward the end because I love my greens, and it was a great touch.
Jenn S. says
01/23/2017 at 7:16 amGreens sound like a great touch! And so nutritious! So glad you liked it. Thanks, Hollyann!
Jenn S. says
01/23/2017 at 7:16 amGreens sound like a great touch! And so nutritious! So glad you liked it. Thanks, Hollyann!
Sara says
01/26/2016 at 1:55 pmSo, my husband, who is not a fan of soup or rice, said, “Surprisingly, this is pretty good.” That’s extremely high marks from him! I love soup and rice, and I absolutely loved the flavor/texture of this soup! I used the juice from a half of a lemon and it was perfect for us. Thank you for a soup recipe that both of us will want to eat again!
Jenn S. says
01/26/2016 at 2:43 pmHaHa, I love that, Sara! I’m surprised you got him to try it, but I’m glad he did! So happy you both liked it!
Susan says
01/25/2016 at 8:52 pmI made this tonight. It was soooo good! Love new healthy soup recipes! Thank you!
Jenn S. says
01/25/2016 at 8:56 pmYay!! I’m super happy to hear that, Susan! Thank you so much for stopping by too let me know! Enjoy the rest of your week!
Cadry's Kitchen says
12/08/2015 at 9:10 pmOh, man. I love a good lentil soup! This sounds perfect! And that’s really cute about your dad and the spoon test. Those memories are so sweet.
Jenn S. says
12/09/2015 at 8:24 amIt’s funny because my mom was always the one who cooked, but I actually have more food memories about my Dad…I think because they were a bit quirky. LOL!! Thank you, Cadry!
Eco Friendly Homemaking says
12/01/2015 at 8:43 pmThis soup looks so hearty and delicious!
Jenn S. says
12/01/2015 at 8:53 pmThank you!
Sina @ Vegan Heaven says
11/10/2015 at 1:43 pmThis looks so delicious, Jenn! 🙂 I absolutely love lentil soup and what a great idea to add rice!
Jenn S. says
11/10/2015 at 2:18 pmThanks so much, Sina! It’s a winning combo! 🙂
spabettie says
11/09/2015 at 5:30 pmthis looks like the perfect soup – so flavorful and satisfying!
Jenn S. says
11/09/2015 at 6:05 pmThanks, Kristina! And it’s so thick, I’m thinking about using it to stuff some cabbage leaves!!
Howie Fox says
11/09/2015 at 4:46 pmThis soup looks sooo good!! Will deffo get back to this one as soon as I’m back in the gym again. Just waiting for my gym buddy to come back to Berlin (good excuse not to go, haha)
Jenn S. says
11/09/2015 at 6:05 pmWell, this is super healthy, so no need to hit the gum first! Which reminds me, I’m doing a 30 day pushup challenge and I haven’t done them yet today. Better get on that! Thanks, Howie!
Jac -Tinned Tomatoes (@tinnedtoms) says
11/08/2015 at 3:16 pmThat looks glorious and a good reminder to get dinner started when you get home and leave it cooking. I had to laugh at your dad’s spoon standing up quote, my dad feels like that about custard, but my mum likes it thin. I remember them falling out over it once and being all huffy, it was hilarious.
Jenn S. says
11/08/2015 at 8:24 pmHaHa!! People are passionate about their food! I love it! And for the record, I like my custard thick too! 🙂 Thanks!
Strength and Sunshine says
11/08/2015 at 6:12 amHe sounds exactly like my dad 😉
Lotus foods makes such beautiful rice! This is such a great winter soup!
Jenn S. says
11/08/2015 at 7:54 amAw, yay for dads!! I am loving Lotus Foods products! Thanks, Rebecca!
melmcdonald2 says
11/07/2015 at 12:17 amA gorgeous looking bowl of soup and perfect for when it’s a weeknight, it’s cold out and everybody’s cranky which seems to be the case here a lot lately! ;o)
Jenn S. says
11/07/2015 at 6:52 amSo, it’s not just my house then? LOL Thanks, Mel!
Levan @ Crazy Vegan Kitchen says
11/07/2015 at 12:14 amPerfect for eating a filling meal AND dipping crusty bread into! Two of my favorite things 😀
Jenn S. says
11/07/2015 at 6:52 amOh yes, crusty bread with soup is a must! Thanks, Levan!
Noel says
11/06/2015 at 7:32 pmI’m always looking for a new way to fix lentils. Adding this to my list!
Jenn S. says
11/07/2015 at 6:51 amGreat, Noel. Thanks!! And me too….I love my lentils!
Gin says
11/06/2015 at 10:24 amLooks absolutely delish, and I love the ultra healthy ingredients! This is the kind of soup I totally crave this time of year. I’m with your Dad, thick is awesome. 🙂
Jenn S. says
11/06/2015 at 1:16 pmDads generally know best, don’t they? 🙂 Thanks, Gin!
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes.com says
11/06/2015 at 8:07 amI love a good lentil soup but never have I thought of adding rice to it. Sounds perfect and like such a hearty and filling soup! On my list of things to try! Pinning 🙂
Jenn S. says
11/06/2015 at 9:09 amThanks, Vanessa! And thanks for the PIN! I love lentils and rice together….so hearty! I hope you enjoy it!
Michelle@healthiersteps.com says
11/05/2015 at 7:44 pmLove this hearty soup, flavors are right on!
Jenn S. says
11/06/2015 at 6:35 pmThanks, Michelle!
Linda @ Veganosity says
11/05/2015 at 10:27 amThis looks amazing, Jenn! I just bought a huge bag of lentils at Costco, guess what I’m making for dinner tonight? LOL! I’m like your dad when it comes to potato soup. It’s more like eating a bowl of mashed potatoes. 🙂
Jenn S. says
11/05/2015 at 11:34 amLOL!!! Nothing wrong with soup with the liquid all absorbed!! Just means more flavor IN the ingredients, right?! Thank you, Linda!
The Vegan 8 says
11/05/2015 at 8:52 amLove soup so much! I especially love lentil soups, looks really hearty and delicious and I love every single ingredient. Great recipe! Beautiful soup!
Jenn S. says
11/05/2015 at 11:33 amThank you so much, Brandi! I may turn into a lentil one day…I eat them so much!! LOL
Danielle Omar MS RDN (@2eatwellRD) says
11/05/2015 at 6:30 amI grew up eating lentil soup, it is my favorite! Your pictures look amazing (I have those same white bowls.). Might have to fix me up a batch of this today!
Jenn S. says
11/05/2015 at 7:29 amLentils are the best! So versatile. Thank you so much, Danielle! I hope you enjoy it!
Lucie says
11/05/2015 at 4:28 amYum, perfect soup for the fall. And I’m not adding any water to my leftovers, I love my soup super thick 🙂
Jenn S. says
11/05/2015 at 7:29 amYay for another thick soup lover! Thanks, Lucie! Enjoy!
veggiesdontbite says
11/05/2015 at 1:25 amThis looks amazing Jenn!! I love thick chunky soups. I’l have to add it to my list of yumminess!!
Jenn S. says
11/05/2015 at 7:28 amThanks, Sophia! There has been a LOT of soup eating in our house lately!!
Kelly Page (@TastingPage) says
11/04/2015 at 9:51 pmAren’t lentils the best? They’re filling, healthy and super tasty and I think for that, your dad should approve!
Jenn S. says
11/04/2015 at 9:54 pmHaHa, yes, Kelly! I think he would! Thanks! I LOVE lentils! I probably eat them at least 5 times a week. I just had some tonight, in fact. I think they are so versatile and, of course, incredibly healthy!