Textual Chef Textual Chef

Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup)

A silky, warming Levantine red lentil soup bloomed with cumin and finished with a bright drizzle of olive oil and lemon. Simple ingredients deliver deep, satisfying flavor in under 40 minutes.

40 minEasyServes 4255 cal/serving

Middle EasternSoupStovetopVeganMediterraneanHigh FiberGluten-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeNut-FreeLow-SodiumAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups red lentils, rinsed
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp olive oil (for drizzling)
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and cook until soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp ground cumin, and 1/2 tsp ground turmeric and cook 1 minute until fragrant.

  2. 2

    Add 1.5 cups rinsed red lentils and 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until lentils are completely soft and falling apart, about 20 minutes.

  3. 3

    Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth and silky. Alternatively blend in batches in a countertop blender with the lid slightly vented.

  4. 4

    Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice. Season with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. If the soup is too thick, thin with a splash of water.

  5. 5

    Ladle into bowls and finish each serving with a drizzle of 2 tsp olive oil (for drizzling) and a sprinkle of 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.

Questions

How long does Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup) keep?

Refrigerate it up to four days, or freeze it in portions for up to three months. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or stock to loosen it.

Can I halve or double Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup)?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,512 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.