Name: Instant Pot Turmeric Lentil Soup {Vegan}
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 onions, chopped; 2 carrots, chopped; 3 stalks celery, chopped; 4 cloves garlic minced; 1 tbsp ginger, minced; 2 (400mL) cans full fat coconut milk; 1 (796mL) can diced tomatoes (in their juices); 1 cup vegetable broth; 1 tbsp turmeric; 1 tsp cumin; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1 1/2 cups red lentils; 4 cups spinach, chopped; 1 tbsp lemon juice

This Instant Pot Turmeric Lentil Soup is a vibrant vegan soup made with immunity-boosting turmeric that's ready in just 20 minutes.

How to make this recipe

Add everything to the Instant Pot in order except the spinach and lemon juice.
Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
Do a quick release of the steam.
Stir in the spinach and lemon juice.
Serve and enjoy!

Ingredients and substitutions

Olive oil – or any other neutral cooking oil like canola or avocado oil.
Onions – you can use yellow or white onions.
Carrots – parsnip has a similar texture but a slightly different taste.
Celery – double up on the carrots or leave them out altogether.
Garlic – jarred garlic or garlic powder would work in a pinch.
Ginger – you can also try using ground ginger if you don't have any fresh ginger.
Coconut milk – substitute for light coconut milk if you want to cut the calories or try soy milk (although it won't be as creamy).
Can of diced tomatoes – you could also use freshly diced tomatoes, just make sure to add in the juices as well.
Vegetable broth – for a non-vegan option, you can use chicken broth.
Turmeric – saffron is an alternative, but is sweeter and doesn't have the same healing properties as turmeric.
Cumin – ground coriander would also work here.
Salt & pepper – to taste.
Red lentils – French or green lentils are another option.
Spinach – any other greens will work like Swiss chard or mustard greens.
Lemon juice – if you don't have any lemon juice, you could also try lime juice.

How much turmeric to add to soup

You don't need to add much turmeric to this soup to get all the benefits. One tablespoon is plenty – anything more might have an over-powering taste, so make sure not to overdo it. You'll still get the same tablespoon from one tablespoon as you would from any more!

Is lentil soup good for you?

Yes! In addition to this soup being low in calories, the lentils are full of nutrients like calcium, iron and potassium. They're also a great source of protein. Plus, this recipe includes turmeric, which can boost your immune system and provide a range of other health benefits.

What to serve with lentil soup

The lentils in this soup make it super filling so you can serve it on its own or as a side dish with sandwiches, wraps and salads. I like having it on its own on a chilly day with a piece of crusty bread!

Storing and reheating

You can store this soup in individual portions in the fridge up to 5 days. To reheat, simply microwave for 2-3 minutes. I prefer to use glass meal prep bowls to store the leftovers in because you can immediately reheat individual servings right from the fridge instead of having to portion out the food after the fact, however you can also store the leftovers in a large bowl with a lid.

Freezing this soup

You can freeze this soup up to 3 months as well! Simply store in individual portions and let defrost in the fridge overnight, or you can reheat in the microwave from frozen for 6-8 minutes, stirring halfway through the reheat time.

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More Instant Pot soup recipes

Meal prep tools for this recipe

The Instant Pot DUO Plus 60 is the version I use in this recipe
You need to buy red lentils for this recipe; other varieties won't work
Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this recipe into leftovers
Stock up on coconut milk here
Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months

Instant Pot Turmeric Lentil Soup {Vegan}