Do you need something fast, healthy, filling, and delicious to make for dinner tonight? My Instant Pot Lentil Soup is just the thing. Even on those busy nights, this comes together fast. You can serve it as a starter for your meal or make it the meal itself. I love to go for meatless meals sometimes since my husband started eating plant-based. When I do, this easy instant pot lentil soup is one of my top choices. The dish keeps the warm, comforting flavors of a traditional lentil soup, with some undertones that remind me of the taste of China. You might think I’m joking, but you only need a few simple ingredients and one pot to pull this off tonight. The payoff is a soup you’ll crave daily. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, I’ve got some tips for you below on how you can make it (see the second footnote under the recipe below). Although the Instant Pot will be the easiest way to do it, because with it, you won’t need to constantly monitor the cooking.
Secret ingredient
My secret weapon in Instant Pot Lentil Soup is Chinese fermented bean paste (called ‘doubanjiang’), which gives it the same satisfying flavor as chili without any meat. You won’t even miss the meat! Doubanjiang is also the key ingredient in authentic Mapo Tofu and Sichuan Eggplant (Yu Xiang Qie Zi). You can also add it to very simple dishes to make them more flavorful. For example, Braised Daikon Radish and Ground Beef Stir Fry with Celery. Plus, it stays good in the fridge for a long time (at least a year, probably longer). So it’s totally worth buying if you don’t already have it in your pantry.
Cooking process
Prep
Before you start cooking, your table should have these ingredients: P.S. You can put the onion and garlic in one bowl once you cut them, because you will add them at the same time.
Cooking
To cook the lentil soup in an Instant Pot:
Topping options
You can serve the lentil soup as an appetizer or on the side (if you make the stew-like texture), but it’s scrumptious enough to make a main dish. Add toppings as you like to dress up your lentil soup!
Chopped tomato and onions: They add crunchiness and a touch of refreshing flavor to the dish. Avocado: My personal favorite. It makes the dish literally taste like a bowl of chili.Lime: A drizzle of lime will balance out the savory taste really well.Cheese and/or sour cream: Always a good option!
Afterthought
The great thing about lentils is that they’re the one bean you don’t have to soak overnight. So if you’ve just come home from a hectic day, there’s really nothing to this soup. I also enjoy putting it together on a weekend so I can freeze it for ready-made meal-prep. It makes an easy lunch to get you through challenging days, too. All that flavor, all completely healthy and vegan, too. That’s why I love my Instant Pot Lentil Soup and I know you’re going to be a believer after your first spoonful. Let’s get started on how to make yourself this super easy and fast soup!
More Instant Pot recipes
Instant Pot Meatballs (Chinese Style)5-Ingredient Instant Pot Black Beans (Vegan)Instant Pot Chinese Sausage Rice Instant Pot Braised Beef (Chinese-Style)Asian-Style Instant Pot Pulled Pork
If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with. Lilja Walter is a part of the Omnivore’s Cookbook team and worked closely with Maggie to develop and test this recipe.
