Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup (Easy Detox Vegetable Soup Recipe!) (2024)

This Turmeric Lentil Detox Soup is a simple, healthy, and hearty meal that's great for digestion and the liver. It’s easy to make, packed with protein, and delicious!

this recipe

Let’s get this out of the way: the word “detox” is controversial in the health world, and I’m not going to claim that this detox soup will purge your body of toxins and have you feeling like a brand new person after a single bowl. Instead, consider this a detox-friendly soup—it's packed with ingredients that support your body'snatural detoxification system!

You see, our bodies are pretty darn amazing (if you didn't already know). We have systems inside of us that naturally flush out unwanted junk that we're consuming. There aren’t magical foods that “detox” our bodies, but you can support your liver and digestive system by eating the wholesome, nutrient-dense foods they need to do their job.

Enter: Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup.

Just like my Easy Red Lentil Soup and , this Turmeric Lentil Detox Soup is packed with flavor, protein, and fiber, but it's also made with some key ingredients to support your digestive system and liver health.

What Are the Health Benefits of Turmeric?

Curcumin is the active component in turmeric, and not only does it give turmeric its rich golden color, it’s also responsible for its detox powers. Curcumin has been shown to not only help reduce inflammation, but also support, and even enhance, the production of bile in the gallbladder. Bile helps the liver flush out toxins, and it also rejuvenates liver cells!

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Avocado oil
  • Onion
  • Celery
  • Turnipor potato
  • Sweet potato – Sweet potatoes are high in fiber to support the digestive system and liver health.
  • Garlic – Garlic is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, both of which help support the liver and kidneys as they are working to flush toxins from our bodies.
  • Sea salt – Regular salt is fine, too, but sea salt brings some extra minerals to the table.
  • Black pepper – Black pepper contains a compound called piperine that enhances the absorption of curcumin in the body. Whenever you have turmeric, you should always pair it with black pepper!
  • Dried thyme
  • Greenor brown lentils – High fiber foods like lentils help the digestive system do its job more effectively.
  • Red lentils
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger – Ginger speeds up the emptying of the stomach and soothes digestive upset.
  • Cumin
  • Vegetable broth – Homemade vegetable broth is best, but store-bought is fine too.
  • Water
  • Almond milk
  • Spinach
  • Fresh herbs– I like parsley, which has a number of health benefits, but cilantro is delicious in this soup too!
  • Lemon juice
  • Red pepper flakes

How to Make Turmeric Lentil Detox Soup

I can't wait for you to try this soup! Not only is it cozy and loaded with healthy ingredients, it also tastes amazing—and it’s a cinch to make. What’s not to love?!

Cook the veggies. Heat the oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Stir in the onions, celery, turnip, potato, and garlic; cook for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables soften a bit. Add the salt, pepper, and thyme and cook about 2 minutes more.

Simmer. Add the lentils, turmeric, ginger, and cumin to the pot. Sauté for a minute or two, then pour in the broth and water. Bring the soup to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Finish. Remove from the heat and stir in the almond milk, spinach, herbs, lemon juice, and pepper flakes. Once the spinach has wilted, serve immediately.

Tips for Success

This is a simple soup, but I still have a few hints and tips to help make sure it turns out perfect!

  • Pick over the lentils. Whenever you cook with lentils, you should rinse them and give them a quick inspection to make sure there aren’t any pebbles in them. (Believe it or not, it does happen.)
  • Cut your veggies in uniform sizes. This ensures that they’ll cook evenly!
  • Customize it to your needs. Swap the vegetable stock for bone broth (or vegan bone broth!), use heavy cream or coconut milk instead of almond milk, substitute butternut squash for sweet potatoes—this Turmeric Lentil Detox Soup is easy to adapt to all kinds of dietary needs!

Serving Suggestions

This detox soup is delicious as-is, but here are some ideas for jazzing it up!

  • Make it creamier. Add a dollop of yogurt or cashew cream on top and swirl it in just before eating!
  • Add some texture. Toasted cashews, crispy roasted chickpeas, and kale chips are all delicious toppings for this soup.
  • Pair it with your favorite grain. Naturally, we’re partial to cooked quinoa, but brown rice is good too!

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

This detox soup is a healthy meal prep option for lunch or dinner, so you might want to double the recipe! Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days and reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

Like most soups, Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup freezes beautifully! Store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months; it can be thawed in the refrigerator or reheated from frozen.

More Delicious Soup Recipes:

  • Healing Cauliflower Holiday Soup
  • Healthy Green Detox Soup
  • Tortilla Soup with Quinoa
  • Creamy Italian Quinoa Soup

Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup

4.9 from 8 votes

This Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup is a flavorful cleansing soup recipe made with ingredients that support liver and digestive health.

author: Alyssa

yield: 6 servings

Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup (Easy Detox Vegetable Soup Recipe!) (9)

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 40 minutes minutes

Total: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped turnip or potato
  • 2 1/2 cups chopped sweet potato
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 cup green or brown lentils
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons turmeric I like 2
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 cup fresh herbs I like parsley
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large stockpot or dutch oven. Add onions, celery, turnip, potato and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes until everything softens slightly. Season with salt, pepper and thyme and cook about 2 minutes.

  • Add lentils, turmeric, ginger and cumin and saute 1 – 2 minutes, then add the broth and water. Bring the soup to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer for 30 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and stir in almond milk, spinach, herbs, lemon and pepper flakes until spinach has wilted. Serve immediately!

Video

Notes

How to store: Store this soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 444mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 6g

cuisine: American

course: Soup

★★★★★

Did You Make This Recipe?

Be sure to share a comment and rating to let us know!

Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup (Easy Detox Vegetable Soup Recipe!) (10)

Filed Under:

  • Dairy Free
  • Freezer Friendly
  • Gluten-Free
  • Lunch
  • One Pot Meals
  • Recipes
  • Soup
  • Stovetop
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup (Easy Detox Vegetable Soup Recipe!) (11)

New to cooking quinoa? Grab your FREE Quinoa Starter Guide!

Become part of the Simply Quinoa community and receive weekly emails with exclusive content that I only share in email, as well as my in-depth guide to starting your quinoa journey.

Download Your Free Guide

Detox Turmeric Lentil Soup (Easy Detox Vegetable Soup Recipe!) (2024)

FAQs

Should lentils be soaked before making soup? ›

The other good news: Lentils don't need to soak as beans do (though you do need to sort and rinse them before cooking). Different types of lentils cook in different amounts of time. Red lentils are the fastest cooking and they dissolve as they cook and make for a smooth soup.

How do you make Jamie Oliver lentil soup? ›

Heat the oil in a large pan on a medium heat, add the garlic, carrots and bouillon powder (see below), then fry gently for 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly. Add the lentils, then pour in 1 litre of water and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally.

Is lentil soup good for you? ›

Here are some of the reasons why you should include lentil soup in your diet. Lentils are high in protein, which is essential for building and maintaining your muscles, bones, and skin. Protein also helps you feel full and satisfied, which can support weight loss and appetite control.

How to thicken lentil soup? ›

This lentil soup should be fairly thick, but if you prefer a thicker soup, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl.

Is lentil soup good for your stomach? ›

Support your digestive system

Lentils are rich in a type of fiber that helps your digestive system work as it should and fuels good bacteria in your gut. Fiber may also help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. “Fiber plays an important role in regulating our bowels and protecting the immune system,” says Homan.

Which color lentils are best for soup? ›

With their hues ranging from yellow to orange to red, red lentils make the perfect velvety base for soups, curries, and dals. These lentils may lose their shape during cooking, but they offer a delicate texture and slightly sweet flavor.

Why is my lentil soup tasteless? ›

To avoid a bland lentil soup, use a flavorful broth—whether that's homemade or store-bought chicken or vegetable broth. The other key is building flavor. To do so, use aromatics like onions and garlic, include fresh or dried herbs, and season well with salt and pepper.

Can you overcook lentils in soup? ›

This time, it turned out mushy and there wasn't a whole lentil to be found. Damn it! I figured out later that it spent about 2.5 hours too long in the slow cooker (a little miscalculation on my part). If you're like me and have overcooked Lentil Soup then you're in luck because I'm going to show you how to revive it.

Why won't my lentils soften in soup? ›

Try buying the freshest lot. Soak them for longer, 6 — 8 hrs or overnight. Try pressure cooking. Add a pich of baking soda while boiling the lentils.

Which color lentil is healthiest? ›

Black Lentils (Beluga lentils)

Best of all, black lentils are the most nutritious variety of lentils, boasting the highest amount of protein, plus high levels of calcium, potassium, and iron.

Is lentil soup OK for kidneys? ›

Lentils are an excellent source of plant-based kidney friendly protein, rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Whether used in a soup, salad, or main dish, lentils are a hearty, healthy addition to any meal. Buy lentils in dried, canned, or frozen forms.

Does lentil soup spike blood sugar? ›

Pulse consumption has been shown to confer beneficial effects on blood glucose and insulin levels. Lentil consumption, in particular, consistently lowers acute blood glucose and insulin response when compared to starchy control foods.

What if I put too much water in my lentil soup? ›

You can add some cornflour mixed in little water and let it boil with your soup till get nice thick consistency. And if you are a health conscious fellow then go for cooked oats. As I do, cook some oats along with lentils and then puree it to make soup. This will not only thicken your soup but add some more health too.

Why is my lentil soup watery? ›

Cook It Longer

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

What does cornstarch do to soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

How long should you soak lentils for soup? ›

How To Soak Right? Soaking lentils for two- eight hours is mostly recommended. In a bowl add the dal and rinse it with water, changing the water 3-4 times and clean it gently by stroking with your fingers. Now add water to a bowl and soak the dal for about 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of lentil.

What happens if you don't soak lentils? ›

Here's why soaking lentils is important

Fact 1: Soaking lentils improves digestion and nutrition absorption as it can neutralise lectins and phytates present that may cause gas and bloating. Fact 2: Soaking lentils also reduces its cooking time. It also brings prana (life) into the legume.

Do I need to cook lentils before adding to soup? ›

Do you cook lentils before adding to soup? Nope! Dried lentils cook in 35 minutes in the soup, and there's no need to soak them either!

Does soaking lentils make a difference? ›

Soaking lentils increase the mineral absorption rate of the body. An enzyme called phytase is activated when you soak the dal for some time. Phytase helps in breaking down phytic acid and helps in binding calcium, iron and zinc. This makes the absorption process much easier.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jamar Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6248

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jamar Nader

Birthday: 1995-02-28

Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804

Phone: +9958384818317

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.