Moroccan Green Lentil Soup

This fragrant green lentil soup – inspired by Pret a Manger – is packed with veggies and warming Moroccan spices.

As mentioned in a recent post, most days when I go into the office, I bring lunch from home. Sometimes though – when our fridge is depressingly bare – I’ll get something out instead. Luckily, there are lots of healthy options in the neighborhood and Pret a Manger is one of my go-to’s.

Pret’s Moroccan lentil soup has been a favorite of mine for literally almost a decade (not exaggerating). As soon as you open the container, it hits your nostrils with the loveliest aroma of savory carrots, earthy lentils, and a dizzying combo of coriander and cumin. It’s the edible equivalent of a soft sweater on a rainy day.

Here’s my copycat version of it. It makes a great lunch or dinner for the colder months, and is packed with good-for-you ingredients.

Ingredients for Moroccan Green Lentil Soup

• Onions, Carrots and Celery: This classic trio gives the soup a sweet and earthy foundation.
• Tomato Paste: Provides a sweet-savory, concentrated tomato flavor.
• Spices: Ground cumin, coriander, and smoked paprika give this lentil soup its Moroccan-inspired personality.
• Broth: You can use any broth you have here. Don’t have any? Just use water. (Psst… have you tried making vegetable scrap broth yet?)
• Lentils: This soup can be made with green or brown lentils.
• Potatoes: You can use russet, white, or Yukon golds. For a twist, use sweet potatoes instead!

Lentil Soup Health Benefits

Green lentil soup is a healthy option for lunch or dinner because of the star ingredient: lentils, which are a superfood in every right. These eco-friendly and inexpensive legumes are packed with iron, magnesium, zinc, and folate. They’re also rich in fiber, and 1 cup of cooked lentils has over 17 grams of protein (i.e. as much as a serving of salmon). So, if lentils aren’t a part of your life yet, I highly encourage you to experiment with them.

Moroccan Lentil Soup: Step-by-Step

Sweat the Vegetables: Cook the onion, carrot, and celery with olive oil and salt until soft, about 10 minutes. Then stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, and spices, and cook for another minute.

Start Simmering the Soup: Next, add the lentils, broth, and bay leaves (if using), cover the pot, and bring to a boil.

Add the Potatoes: Once the broth is boiling, add the potatoes, and reduce the heat to low. Gently simmer the soup with the lid ajar until the lentils are tender and the potatoes are cooked through, about 45 minutes. If it starts to get too thick, add a splash more water/broth.

Serve the Soup: Garnished with parsley, if you want.

Make-Ahead Tips

This vegan lentil soup tastes even better after it sits and keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days. If it gets too thick, thin it out with a splash of water when reheating. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

More vegetarian soups…

• Vegetarian Moqueca with Plantains
• Red Lentil Dal with Cauliflower
• Classic Pea Soup
• Creamy Tomato Soup

Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag @thenewbaguette on Instagram with your creation.

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