Slow-Cooker Yellow Lentil Soup
This slow-cooker lentil soup is nutritious, hearty and flavorful. Serve it with crusty bread and a side salad for a complete meal. The yellow lentils are slow-cooked until soft you can barely see the grains. Flavored with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and fresh cilantro this will become a family favorite very soon.
I can honestly say the slow cooker and these dried lentils, legumes, beans, etc… are a match made in heaven.
One of my all-time cooking frustrations use to be when I want to make lentils, beans, legumes – I’d always forget to soak them and boil them ahead of time. I’m not the one to stock on canned food much which does not help much.
So usually I buy these in dried foam which means – I have to soak them overnight or between 6 to 8 hours to re-hydrate them. Then cook than on the stovetop in a pot of boiling water which usually can take from 45 minutes to an hour. After that, I’d usually cook them into a curry or soup or add them to the chilly, etc. Sometimes I’d made extra and freeze too.
Now I don’t have to soak them/ re-hydrate them or even boil them for 45 minutes. I just place them in the slow cooker and it cooks them until.
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- Lentils – I love yellow lentils more than any other. But all lentils are nutritious and almost any lentils can be used in place on this yellow variety in this soup.
- Ginger – this can be optional but I do believe it adds that little extra zing to this soup
- Cilantro – this herb here is not for garnish – it does add a lot more flavor and taste too! So I highly recommend you add cilantro.
- Stock – Well, ideally water would work too but added vegetable or chicken stock is always a great way to add something more.
Sometimes, I add a few bones I get from the butcher for my stock to my slow cooker while the lentils are slow cooking. It just adds more flavor. - Turmeric -It’s optional !! Yes, it’s optional. Apart from the fact that it has many health benefits I love the color, it adds to this soup.
Why do I saute the Onions, garlic/ginger?
I know most people like to just add the ginger, garlic, and onion into the slow cooker but I personally don’t like raw onions very much – I prefer the taste of sauteed onions as compared to stewed onions. But you can just add them in if you prefer.
Useful Tips and Tools
- In the interest of good hygiene, it is a good practice to always use separate chopping boards one for the veggies and a separate one for the meat.
- A Chef’s knife does a great job of cutting meats, while the utility knife works best for the veggies.
- A heavy bottom saute-pan or cast-iron skillet to saute the veggies.
- Slow cooker or Crock-Pots are easily available these days and quite affordable too. They make meal planning so much easier than last-minute stress of what’s for dinner? If possible choose one that has the option to saute in there so you can do everything in one pot including browning the meat. My only regret is that I can’t brown the meats or saute the onions in the same pot. By the way, the Instant Pot has a slow cooker option too and I’m pretty excited that I will be able to use it for slow cooking too.
- If you don’t have a slow cooker a good quality Dutch oven does a great job of slow cooking on the stovetop.
- If you plan to cook it on the stovetop, but don’t have a Dutch oven use a heavy bottom skillet that will endure the long slow cooking. You can also use a heat tamer or heat diffuser that you can place under the pan to distribute the heat evenly.
- I like to use my wooden spatula to cook so I do not damage the surface of my pans.
- If you following a recipe it’s best to use measure cups and spoons for accuracy.
- Read – 10 essential pots and pan to help you cook better.
How to Make A Crock Pot / Slow Cooker Yellow Lentil Soup (Save/Pin)
- Clean and wash the lentils in running water several times
- Place lentils in the slow cooker with 2 cups water
- Switch the slow cooker on low for 2 hours
- In a saute pan cook the chopped onion, garlic, ginger until onions are translucent
- Add turmeric and coriander and bay leaves.
- Transfer onion mixture it to the slow cooker
- Add stock and Cilantro. (save some cilantro for garnish)
- Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours until the lentils are completely mushed up.
- Check seasoning and consistency – adding water to bring to a thick soup consistency.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve with some crusty or toasted bread.
Frequently asked questions
The delicious slow-cooker lentil soup will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. You can also keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Always thaw in the fridge overnight for the best results.
You can cook lentils without soaking but they do take longer. Soaking helps with cooking them quicker as well as with a softer texture.
Yes, of course, you can add about a 1 tsp of hot paprika or 1 tsp chopped green chilies when sauteing the onions
This is already a vegan soup with no dairy or
I like overcooked lentils because they are softer and more delicious.
yes, you can cook this soup on the stovetop and the lentils usually take between 30 to 45 minutes to cook until soft.
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Slow Cooker Lentil Soup – Yellow Lentil Soup
Print Pin RateDescription
Equipment /Tools
- Slow cooker
- Soup Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup (6.77 oz) Yellow lentils
- 1/2 (0.5 ) Onion chopped
- 1 clove (1 clove) Garlic
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) Ginger grated
- 2 (2 ) Bay leaves
- 1/4 cup (0.25 cup) Cilantro chopped
- 2 cups (15.89 floz) Stock
- 2 cups (16.91 floz) Water
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Turmeric
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Clean and wash the lentils in running water several times
- Place lentils in the slow cooker with 2 cups water
- Switch the slow cooker on low for 2 hours
- In a saute pan cook the chopped onion, garlic, ginger until onions are translucent
- Add turmeric and coriander and bay leaves.
- Transfer onion mixture it to the slow cooker
- Add stock and Cilantro. (save some cilantro for garnish)
- Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours until the lentils are completely mushed up.
- Check seasoning and consistency – adding water to bring to a thick soup consistency.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve with some crusty or toasted bread.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Video
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Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
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Velda
Just made this reicpe. Thank you so much – Was so delicious. Can’t believe it was so easy.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Velda. So happy you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for taking the time to write this feedback. Love hearing back from those who try my recipe. Have a great day.
Mary
I love lentils and this looks so delicious – Love Indian food so this reminds me of dal. I think I will make some barley and add to this too! Thanks for the recipe.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Mary. Yes, this is definitely Indian inspired
valmg @ Mom Knows It All
I don’t see lentil soup round here very often. It did remind me of a pea soup my Mom used to make that was almost the same yellow.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Val – Yeah I know what you mean, I too am making an effort to use more lentils in out diet now.
Molly Kumar
This looks so delicious Veena and I love lentils. I literally have it everyday but I’ve never made them in slow cooker before. I’ll surely try your recipe soon as this makes it even more easier 🙂
Veena Azmanov
Lucky you Molly, I love lentils but don’t make it as often as I should – My kids are now learning to appreciate it though so should be doing more lentils for sure.
Byron Thomas
This soup looks so comforting. I love anything with lentils, so you had my attention as soon as I saw the title of this recipe. 🙂 We are soup lovers in our home, because they’re usually very nutritious and delicious. Going to try this one!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Byron. We a big on soup here too.
Swathi
Simple dal is always my favorite. Your version of slow cooker lentil soup looks delicious. I like to add little ghee or butter when it is done.
Veena Azmanov
My mom would always add ghee at the end to the dal too! Nice flavor. I have not got into that habit lol
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
So glad to see you are enjoying your slow cooker. I love using mine. This soup sounds so delicious. We have rain in the forecast for the next few days. This would be perfect to take the chill off…and I LOVE lentils too.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Gloria. I sure am loving my new toy. Been using it quite often. Thanks
Natalie
Soup looks really lovely Veenna. Love the addition of ginger and turmeric. I bet soup tastes delicious with all that flavours. I’m a big fan of lentil. Will save this recipe to try.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Natalie. Yeah I love the little zing ginger adds to this soup. Hope you try it. Thanks
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I can tell this is a healthy soup just by looking at the color! I love lentil soup. I definitely need to try your version.
Veena Azmanov
It sure is Amy. Lots of nutrition in Lentils Thanks – Hope you give it a try.
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Lentils are one of my favorites. I love how you did them in the slow cooker. I definitely will be trying this. I never had them with ginger..I bet this is delicious.
Veena Azmanov
Yeah I’m finding new uses for my slow cooker Stephanie. Loving it so far. Thanks
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
I could have soup any day of the week. It seems like I’ve just discovered lentils and I know they’ve been around for quite a while. I really like the spices you use! We’re definitely trying to get more turmeric in our mealsI’m pinning this to make when we get home.
Veena Azmanov
I’ve had lentil soup a lot as a kid but not so much over the last couple years. Getting back to it now.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife
I love slow cooker soup recipes, and I love lentil soup, so this combo is perfect! Sounds and looks delicious.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Marlynn. It sure was delicious.
Gillian Thompson
I’m definitely with you on the onion sauteing front, and love how you can just cook dried lentils directly in the slow cooker, I’d never thought of this. I will now may start to use my dried lentils and beans a little more often.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Gillian. Yeah you can cook them in there without soaking so makes planning so much easier. Yeah you must try. It does cook them nice and soft