Curried Lentil Tomato and Coconut Soup

Made the second lentil soup this week, although using red lentils rather than green lentils. The idea is the same: comfort food during the busy yearend holiday season. However, this curried lentil tomato and coconut soup has little resemblance to the green lentil soup. This one is spicy spiked with ginger, garlic, curry powder and red pepper flakes. A can of crushed tomatoes gives the soup full body. A can of coconut milk imparts a creamy rich finish to the soup.

I found this recipe in the December issue of Bon Appétit with the heading, “comfort me with soup,” with a compelling narrative. “Extravagant holiday feasts are meant to be indulged in once a year. But as far as Ottolenghi is concerned, a bowl of soup is forever.” I have marked this recipe to make since the day I read it.

It was nice to have my daughter home over the holidays. She often brings me exciting recommendations on books, podcasts, Netflix series or new restaurants. This time she came home with a bad cold and cough. Still she helped to make deserts for the holiday dinner party, together with all the setup and cleanup. I knew all she wanted was not more excitement but curling up in a comfortable chair and chill. So I gave her the culinary equivalent of that: a big pot of lentil soup.

The curried lentil tomato and coconut soup checks a number of boxes. It’s gluten free, dairy free, meat free and guilt free. It offers quiet comfort amid the whirlwind of holiday activities.

Print Recipe

Curried Lentil, Tomato and Coconut Soup

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 2½-inch piece ginger, peeled, finely grated
• 1 tablespoon medium curry powder
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ¾ cup red lentils
• 1 14.5-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup finely chopped cilantro (or parsley, or scallions), plus leaves with tender stems for serving
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
• 1 13.5-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk, shaken well
• Lime wedges (optional, for serving)

Instructions

1

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Cook onion, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, 8–10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, curry powder, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add lentils and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add tomatoes, ½ cup cilantro, a generous pinch of salt, and 2½ cups water; season with pepper. Set aside ¼ cup coconut milk for serving and add remaining coconut milk to saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft but not mushy, 20–25 minutes. Season soup with more salt and pepper if needed.

2

To serve, divide soup among bowls. Drizzle with reserved coconut milk and top with more cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Notes

Adapted from Bon Appétit "Notes from test Kitchen" by Yotam Ottolenghi