There are days when food needs to do more than fill you up it needs to steady you. Comfort Lentil Soup is made for those days. The kind of soup you simmer slowly, letting the kitchen fill with warmth while life quiets down just a little. It’s simple, dependable, and deeply nourishing, the kind of meal people have turned to for generations when they needed something honest and grounding.
Lentil soup has appeared in countless cultures for one simple reason: lentils are reliable. They’re affordable, filling, and rich in nutrients that help the body feel strong and supported. When paired with vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, they become the foundation of a meal that feels complete without being heavy. Add a bit of spice, a good broth, and time and suddenly, a pot of humble ingredients turns into something that feels like care.
The addition of sweet potato brings a gentle sweetness to this soup, softening the earthiness of the lentils and balancing the flavors naturally. It’s not sugary or overpowering just enough to make each spoonful feel rounder, warmer, and more comforting. This is the kind of sweetness that comes from vegetables doing what they do best.
Comfort Lentil Soup fits beautifully into the Let’s Veg lifestyle because it’s flexible and forgiving. It welcomes substitutions. It adapts to what’s in your pantry. It can be chunky or smooth, light or hearty, spiced or simple. It’s just as good for feeding a family as it is for portioning into containers for the week ahead. And like most soups, it gets better with time the flavors deepening, the texture settling, the comfort growing.
Emotionally, soup has a way of slowing us down. A warm bowl asks you to pause, breathe, and take care of yourself for a moment. It’s food that feels safe. Familiar. Steady. In a world that often moves too fast, this soup is a reminder that nourishment doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful.
And if today you’re hungry and ready to cook, feel free to skip the story and jump straight to the recipe below. Your comforting bowl is waiting.
Lentil Soup (with Sweet Potato)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5-7 minutes, until softened.
- Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Lentils & Sweet Potato
- Stir in the lentils and sweet potato.
- Mix well so the spices absorb into the vegetables.
- Add Spices & Broth
- Add cumin, paprika, turmeric (if using), salt, and pepper.
- Pour in the broth and stir.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer Until Tender
- Lentils are soft
- Sweet potatoes are tender
- The soup has thickened slightly
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- (Optional) Add a handful of spinach or kale until wilted.
- (Optional) Add a squeeze of lemon to brighten the flavor.
Nutrition
Notes
Enjoy warm it’s even better the next day.