The lemon juice added at the last minute gives this hearty Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup a great tangy flavor. It’s slow cooking as most soups are but the assembly is right out of your pantry and quick and, if you have a crock pot, you can even let the cooking part take place while you are out! I love to use red lentils for this soup because they are nice and soft when cooked, which is perfect for this soup, but you can also use brown lentils. The combination of lentils and chickpeas make this a complete meal in a pot with lots of protein and lots of fiber and lots of veggies–so yummy and nutritious!
P.S. Watch my cooking class video on how to make this recipe!
Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup
I prefer to use red lentils for this soup, but any other variety will do, you will just have to adjust the time cooking and double check that there is enough liquid, especially if you use French lentils or Black beluga lentils.
Author: Catherine Katz
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
- 1 large yellow potato, rinsed and diced (unpeeled)
- 2 tsp ground mild curry
- 1½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can (28 oz) diced plum tomatoes (with the juice)
- 8-9 cups water
- 1 cup dried and rinsed lentils (preferably red)
- 2 (15 oz) cans chickpeas, well rinsed and drained
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Place olive oil in large pot, and sauté onions, celery and potatoes along with the spices (tumeric, curry and cinnamon ) over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Add canned tomatoes with their juice and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Add water, chickpeas and salt. Bring to boil, then simmer partially covered for 30 minutes.
- Add the lentils and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes (Check that there is enough liquid if using another variety of lentils and add I extra cup of water if necessary).
- Just before serving, add lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and cilantro, if using.
This is my favorite soup to eat and cook. It’s become my “go to” recipe for entertaining. What a wonderful combination of flavors! Every single element of this dish is satisfying to the taste buds. When I make it, I can’t get enough of it. I eat it for a week straight! What a brilliant combination of zesty citrus and savory. It’s so ridiculously healthy too. The lemon, balsamic, and fresh cilantro are such a genius touch! Will you come out with a cookbook of more vegan/vegetarian soups? If you need a recipe tester let me know? 🙂
YAY Mel, that makes me so happy to hear!! I am not intending to write a cookbook because I feel there are so many wonderful ones on the market already, but I am touched by your beautiful enthusiasm and support!
Hi, I have just found your website after watching ‘Awakening From Alzheimer’s’ (your husband’s video was extremely interesting) I loved the recipes but have to make many substitutions . I have some food intoleremces which are difficult to substitute, one being the nightshade family of vegetables. I would love to try ‘ Moroccan and chick pea soup’ but tomatoes are a no-no. I often have to dismiss recipes that contain this. What could you advise instead for tinned tomatoes. I live in UK and have just started with a functional medicine doctor. I have had to change every aspect of food, more or less Keto ingredients. It is all very overwhelming at 84. I would so appreciate your help here. There are many recipes on your site that I love so I and my husband will be visiting it often.
Many thanks, aJane
Another 5 star soup! I added some spaghetti noodles, broth and a few pepper flakes. “It is so good!,” I exclaim every time I eat it.
OH MY GOODNESS Thank you Penny, I love your review! It doesn’t get better than that! I hear your exclaiming all the way from my kitchen! 🙂
This has become my go-to soup; my husband and I both LOVE it! The flavors are wonderful. Just before serving we add the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar AND little chunks of parmesan cheese – the cheese flavor adds a really nice flavor in this soup! By cutting it in little chunks, it won’t stick to your teeth like grated, melted parm would!
5 hearts!!
Ann, I just LOVE your enthusiasm! Thank you so much for your lovely feedback!! 🙂
One of my favorites too! I love that you and your hubby love it too!
This soup was so delicious! My nine year old loved it too (even though he picked the chick peas out of your Mediterranean salad, he devoured them in the soup, keep trying, right? :)) Perfectly delicious, nutritious and comforting too! Thank you! Kamila
Aw Kamila, it will sound almost silly to you but you really warmed my heart today! I needed that! 🙂 Thank you!
So easy and tasty and PERFECT to make on a record cold temperature New England weekend! The combo of spices are key and simple.
YAY Wendy!!! It was a freezing cold weekend indeed and I love that you picked this yummy soup for it!!
Hi Catherine,
I cooked this dish for 40 – 50 people today at an AGM dinner. Many many folks asked me for the recipe and I HAPPILY connected them to Cuisinicity. :>) The contents of the 2 dutch oven pots were demolished in very short order. I served it with cilantro, baguette and a spinach salad. I also had a crockpot of chili for the meat lovers.
To cook more, I’ve invited my friends to go to the Cuisinicity website, email me their order and then drop by for dinner (and a spot of wine). This way and I can continue my Cuisinicity journey, discovering new dishes by cooking exactly what others want. This makes cooking more fun for me – broadening my scope of Cuisinicity favorites.
John
WOW John, what a generous wonderful thing to do! Your friends are so lucky! How fun too! You are amazing!!!
Just made this soup…. Managed to not have either white potato or sweet potato in the house but made the soup anyway…. Delious! Tomorrow I’ll have left overs with left over cracked wheat! Thanks for your recipes.
Tried to get 5 hearts!!! Accidentally posted two!!!
Melanie–You are so sweet for letting me know! Not a problem, I think this soup is so well-loved, no harm done!!! I love that you love it, that’s the most important!
Wonderful Marilyn! I bet the sweet potato tasted wonderful as well! I am making it tonight as I have a cold and it’s dreary outside, so a little fire i the fireplace a good cozy movie, and my hubby and I are having soup tonight!!!!
Should you be making chicken soup, instead? 🙂 Stay warm and feel better soon. I will be making your tilapia Provençal recipe next week. Love, love, love your recipes!
One of the best soups I have made. Because I live in a small town and only use organic potatoes, I had to substitute a sweet potato for the potato and this worked well. I also served the lemon, balsamic vinegar and cilantro on the side. I love cilantro so added lots to my bowl. This will definitely be a winter staple in my house!
Cette soupe est délicieuse et trés facile à réaliser. Je l’ai faite deux fois maintenant et tout le monde s’est régalée à chaque fois. Au lieu du citron, j’ai opté pour du citron vert.
Merci. Je vais certainement explorer vos autres recettes.
Ah que ca me fait plaisir! Merci beaucoup Sylvie! Du citron vert, ça doit être aussi délicieux, quelle bonne idée hhhmmmm un régal!!! Je viens de realiser que vous êtes la même Sylvie à laquelle je viens de répondre en anglais pour une autre question!
I battle an unhealthy addiction to food. Your husband’s column in the New Haven Register is the one thing that keeps me trying to break my unhealthy habits. I recently began following him on linkedin and found the link to your website. THANK YOU for making healthy food that is appealing and does not seem to be boring or bland. Perhaps this is the key element I need to finally break my unhealthy lifestyle.
Absolutely Dawn!!! One little step at a time! My feedback from a lot of women especially is that they are starting to love their kitchen again, and love the simplicity and variety…so welcome to Cuisinicity and bon appétit! I am really delighted to have you at the table!
coucou! merci encore pour cette magnifique soupe! en ces temps qui se refroidissent , c’est un délice! tiens , je fais des vers maintenant? allez zou! bonne journée à vous! Martine
Merci à vous Martine!
bonjour , un régal! ce petit gôut de citron et de coriandre à la fin de la recette , juste avant de servir, hmmm! tout le monde a apprécié! merci et bonne journée à vous so busy! Martine de France
Hi Catherine,
I made a double batch to feed both friends and family today. They all loved it. All four kids were at the table and they had two to three bowls each – glad I made a double batch! My friends were happy to learn that I forwarded the recipe to them by email. My wife and I also liked how uncomplicated the preparation was – good food that’s delicious and preparations that are family friendly. Thanks! :>)
John! You could not have made me any happier this morning with this wonderful comment!!!! YOU are amazing, your determination to feed your kids well astounds me! YES!!!!
Have this on the stove again today – turning into a family favorite!!
Yay! Greg! I love that!!!
This soup is so good! It is perfect for the fall weather we are starting to have – spices that warm, with a taste that is so hearty and satisfying!
YUM.
Thank you so much Greg! That’s exactly how I feel too! That makes me so happy!
I checked Kitchen Aid on my lunch hour but they all seem to lock – the Artisan is $325… have to sell a goat!
Are you interested? 🙂
I am planning on making this tonight for dinner- cool here today and this should hit the spot!
By the way, I am thinking of buying a stand mixer (want to make those buns!) – a bit of a investment so, I am wondering if you could recommend one? Thanks.
Wonderful! Here is one I like:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/575897871074162384/ but there are other brands like it I am sure. Check out what feature I like about this particular one when you pick yours and make sure it has a metal dough hook to make those soft wheat buns!! Let me know how it goes!
Il me tarde que le froid s’installe pour faire cette soupe!!
Elle réchauffe déjà , juste en regardant cette photo !hum !
Ah oui, que c’est bon devant un bon feu! Il me tarde aussi! Merci pour votre gentil mot!