Healthy and hearty, this vegan lentil, sweet potato and kale soup will keep you warm and happy this winter.
If you, like myself, have resolved to eat more healthily in the new year then you HAVE to add this recipe to your repertoire. It is packed with healthy stuff – and ONLY healthy stuff – it is delicious, filling, vegan and reheats like a dream. Seriously, it is a healthy resolution on its own! It also is such a hearty soup that it straddles the line between soup and stew. No one would argue with you if you called it a stew and served it over rice or potatoes. I say it is a soup, albeit a very thick one, but I will leave you to make up your own minds on that score 😉
This recipe was originally shared on Instagram and it only went and won the Kallo Soup Scooter competition. I have updated the recipe somewhat – only because I always tinker with recipes, even my own, every time I make them. Essentially though it is pretty unchanged – I only swapped some ingredients to suit what I had available. I used puy lentils as they cook relatively quickly without need for soaking and also keep their shape. You could use other types of lentils except perhaps split red lentils which would turn to mush – here’s another soup recipe that’s much better suited to those!
Lentil, sweet potato and kale soup
Ingredients
- 580 ml | 2 1/3 cups hot vegetable stock
- 1 x400g 14oz can light coconut milk
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 banana shallots finely chopped
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 250 g | 9oz puy lentils rinsed
- 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and finely diced
- 2 carrots peeled and finely diced
- 4 large kale leaves ribs removed, finely chopped
- salt and pepper to season
- pinch dried chilli flakes to serve
- olive oil and extra vinegar to drizzle optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon. Sauté over low heat for 7 minutes until softened.
- Add the sweet potatoes, carrot and tomato purée. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Add the lentils, stock and coconut milk and bring to a rolling boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Break up the sweet potatoes using the back of a wooden spoon or liquify two ladlefuls of the soup in a blender and then add back into the soup, stirring it in.
- Add the chopped kale, cover the pot and continue to cook for another 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the soup is too thick you can add a little hot water to thin it out.
- Stir in the vinegar and check the seasoning.
- Serve with a pinch of dried chilli flakes and add a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar.
Notes
• You might need to add extra liquid when reheating the soup as it will become very thick if stored.
• You can also use butternut squash instead of the sweet potato.
• You can use cavolo nero instead of Kale - it might need a little less cooking.
Laura says
I like to make new soups every week for work. I’m definitely pinning this for the future, looks really filling!
Christine @ Yum and in Love says
oooooh, I made something like this once and it was a big hit and this is reminding me of it- I will definitely be trying this! 🙂
Lucy Parissi says
It is a versatile recipe – you can serve it as a soup or as a stew… definitely worth making a big batch. Which reminds me…
Claire @foodiequine says
This looks and sounds fantastic. Almost dahl like. Perfect comfort food AND good for you #winwin
Nadia says
I love chunky hearty soups with lots of bits in it! This recipe is so up my street. Super healthy and full of amazing flavours 😀 well done for winning the soup competition (yay!) 😀
Camilla Hawkins says
This looks like an awesome soup Lucy and just the kind my family would love as we all love lentils:-)
Laura says
When I made this from your Instagram post I find it in the slow cooker with red lentils and yes they do break down but it works I promise! It made it more like a stew than a soup but I really liked it all the same. Possibly even more comforting?! There was plenty of texture still because if the other ingredients and I felt so healthy and virtuous eating it.
Lucy Parissi says
Nice to hear it works with red lentils too! I think they have a slightly different taste which is why I used green lentils. The slow cooker option sounds perfect – how long did you cook it for?
Laura says
Errr, to be honest I can’t remember. I think I just left it on low until I had finished my housework then turned it up to high to finish off. Not a very helpful answer I know! I’d like to try it again with out lentils to see which texture I prefer.
Ceri Jones says
This looks delicious Lucy – right up my street and so warming right now. Beautiful pics as ever