Best Lebanese Lentil Soup Recipes

LEBANESE-STYLE RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Bring chicken stock and lentils to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Stir onions into the lentils and season with cumin and cayenne. Continue simmering until the lentils are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully puree the soup in a standing blender, or with a stick blender until smooth. Stir in cilantro and lemon juice before serving.

CHARD LENTIL SOUP, LEBANESE-STYLE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Cook lentils in boiling water until beginning to soften, 8 to 10 minutes. Add chard; continue cooking until wilted, about 5 minutes.
• Add potatoes to the boiling water, reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook until the potatoes are completely cooked, about 12 minutes.
• Mix lemon juice, crushed garlic, and salt together in a bowl; add to the pot. Continue to cook at a simmer another 5 minutes. Stir olive oil into the mixture. Increase heat to high and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.

LEBANESE LENTIL AND SWISS CHARD SOUP

Steps:

• Spread the lentils on a platter and pick them clean of any impurities. Rinse & drain.
• Put the lentils and water in a large saucepan and place over a high heat. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan, and boil gently for 30 - 45 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
• While the lentils are cooking, wash the swiss chard, trim the dirty bottom ends of the stalks, if any, and chop into thin strips about 1/2-inch wide. Add to the lentils & simmer another 5-10 minutes until the chard has softened.
• Peel the garlic cloves, chop them coarsely, and put them in a mortar. Add a generous pinch of salt to absorb the juices released from the crushed garlic and pound with a pestle until you have a smooth paste. You could squeeze the garlic with a garlic crusher but the texture and taste of pounded garlic is nicer.
• Slowly incorporate the lemon juice into the garlic paste, then the olive oil.
• When the lentils and chard are done, stir the garlic mixture into the soup. Season with salt to taste and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Taste, adjust seasoning if necessary and serve at room temperature.

ADAS BIL HAMOD (LEBANESE LENTIL LEMON SOUP)

Steps:

• Heat oil in large pot over high heat. When oil is very hot, add onions and stir until onions begin to turn dark brown and caramelize, about 10 minutes. Put the lentils, garlic, frozen spinach, and mint into the pot. Pour in enough water so that it is about 2 inches deeper than the lentil mixture. Stir well to loosen browned bits of onion on the bottom of the pot.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, until lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. If soup gets too thick, add a little more water. Salt to taste. Lower heat and stir in lemon juice.

INSTANT POT® LEBANESE LENTIL SOUP (SHORBAT ADAS)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Heat olive oil in the pot. Add onion, potato, carrot, tomato, celery, and garlic; cook and stir until starting to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle salt, cumin, cinnamon, and allspice over the vegetables and stir until fragrant.
• Pour in stock, water, and lentils. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 10 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Meanwhile, spread pita squares on a lined baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and season with salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until toasted, about 8 minutes.
• Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Puree soup using an immersion blender. Stir in juice of 1 lemon.
• Divide soup among bowls and scatter a handful of pita chips over each. Cut the second lemon into wedges and serve alongside.

INSTANT POT® LEBANESE LENTIL AND CHARD SOUP

Steps:

• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Heat olive oil in the pot. Add onion, potato, celery, and garlic; cook and stir until starting to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle 1/2 of the cilantro, salt, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon on top; stir until fragrant.
• Pour in water and lentils. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 15 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Stir in chard; cover soup and let sit until chard wilts, about 5 minutes. Uncover and stir in juice of 1 lemon.
• Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with remaining cilantro. Cut the second lemon into wedges and serve alongside.

LEBANESE SPINACH AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan set over low-moderate heat, saute the onion in a drizzle of oil with a pinch of salt until transparent and starting to brown, 4 to 7 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
• Add the water, stock, lentils, and spices, and bring to a simmer.
• Cook, covered, until the lentils are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• In the meantime, drain the spinach in a colander and squeeze by handfuls to remove as much liquid as possible.
• In a large skillet, saute the spinach in batches with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt until cooked and almost crisp.
• Transfer the cooked spinach to a plate and set aside.
• Once the lentils are tender, add the vermicilli pieces and cook until the pasta is nearly tender, about 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add the sauteed spinach and juice of half a lemon to the pot, stir well, and add salt and pepper.
• Add more lemon if you like, or pass around wedges at the table.
• Ladle into bowls and top with cilantro.

LEBANESE LEMON LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, celery, and carrots until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add water, lentils, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, salt, coriander, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; stir to incorporate. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 hours.
• Whisk butter and flour together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; stir constantly until thickened and paste-like, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes, until light brown, about 20 more minutes. Whisk flour paste into finished soup, a spoonful at a time, until smooth and creamy. Serve with lemon wedges, 2 tablespoons parsley, and a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper.

LEBANESE ADAS BIS SILQ (LENTIL & SWISSCHARD SOUP)

Steps:

• Wash the lentils and place in a large sauce pan with the 6 cups water.
• Bring lentils to a boil, skimming when necessary, cover and simmer gently for approximately 1 hour or until the lentils are soft (do not under-cook) .
• In a separate pan heat the olive oil, add onions and cook until transparent, stir in the garlic and cook for a minute more. Add shredded swiss chard and stir fry until the leaves are wilted.
• Pour onions into the pot with the lentils, add cilantro, season with salt and pepper, add lemon juice and simmer for a further 15-20 minutes. Serve in soup bowls garnished with a wedge of lemon. Serve with some type of flatbread.

LEBANESE LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Place cilantro in a food processor with garlic, 3 Tbsps olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Process until mixture forms a paste.
• Set aside.
• Sauté onions in 1/4 cup of olive oil until light brown.
• Add lentils and mix.
• Cook on medium heat for a few minutes.
• Add cinnamon and water.
• Turn heat to medium-high and cook, uncovered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Turn heat to medium, add remaining salt, spinach, potatoes and cilantro paste.
• and cook, uncovered, on low heat until lentils are creamy.
• Add lemon juice and continue cooking, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• (Total cooking time about 1 1/2 hours.) This soup can be served cold, warm or hot.

LEBANESE RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Sautee onions in the olive oil or butter until soft and translucent.
• Add the stock, lentils, and rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover partially.
• When lentils are broken down and rice is almost cooked (about 10 minutes), add the Arabic seven spice, cumin, salt, pepper, and Aleppo pepper, if using it.
• Simmer soup for another 15-20 minutes.
• Turn off heat and then add the lemon juice.
• NOTE: Add more stock or water to thin it out if it becomes too thick. At the correct consistency, you should be able to pour the soup into bowls.
• Serve with crusty bread and additional lemon wedges.

LEBANESE LENTIL AND COLLARDS SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, stir in onion and salt; cook until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in lentils, and cook for 1 minute. Pour in water, then bring to a boil over high heat, then turn heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add collard greens, and cook until wilted, about 10 minutes.
• When the lentils are tender, stir in the collard greens and season with cumin, cinnamon, and garlic; allow to simmer 10 more minutes.
• Stir in lemon juice before serving.