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Bowl of Dal Soup Topped with Coconut Milk and Cilantro
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5 from 11 votes

Easy Red Lentil Dal Soup

This comforting dal soup is made with hearty red lentils, Indian spices, and creamy coconut milk. It's easy to make and hearty enough for a meal!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American, Indian
Servings: 6
Calories: 292kcal
Author: Alissa Saenz

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • Pinch cayenne pepper, optional (or to taste)
  • 2 cups dried split red lentils
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 (14 ounce or 400 gram) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • Chopped fresh cilantro, for topping

Instructions

  • Coat the bottom of a large pot with oil and place it over medium heat.
  • Give the oil a minute to heat up, the add the onion. Sweat the onion for about 5 minutes, until it becomes soft and translucent.
  • Stir in the garlic, ginger, garam masala, cumin seeds, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Cook everything for about 1 minute, until the mixture becomes very fragrant.
  • Stir in the lentils and broth. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until the lentils are very soft.
  • Stir in the coconut milk and tomatoes. Continue simmering for about 5 minutes, until the soup is very thick and the lentils have fallen apart.
  • Remove the pot from the burner and stir in the lemon juice. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Ladle into bowls and top with fresh cilantro. Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 44.9g | Protein: 22.5g | Fat: 5.5g | Saturated Fat: 2.2g | Sodium: 776mg | Potassium: 1002mg | Fiber: 20.8g | Sugar: 4.5g | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 6mg