French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (2024)

This French Carrot Lentil Soup recipe is hearty, flavorful, and loaded with delicious vegetables. Made with red lentils, carrots, onions, and French spices, this soup is easy to meal prep! Vegan, gluten free, and high protein.

I love a bright, creamy, flavorful, hearty plant-based soup – and this recipe hits all the marks. Its velvety and creamy, and surprisingly hearty for a pureed soup. The red lentils and the carrots are the absolute stars of this simple dish.

We are year-round soup lovers, I make two big batches of soup for our lunches every week! I love that its super easy to meal prep, and I enjoy coming up with new ways to enjoy pantry staples like lentils, beans, rice, and pasta. Chunky, hearty soups are my go-to but wanted to try something a little more creamy and this lentil and carrot soup was born!

I love the French flavors in this soup- Herbes de Provence is one of my favorite spice blends (a mix of thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, and oregano) I use it in tons of recipes. Its the star of my Coconut Cream of Mushroom soup and our weeknight favorite Roasted Root Vegetables with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette.

This French Carrot Lentil Soup Is:

  • Packed with Flavor
  • Made with whole, simple ingredients (and some pantry staples!)
  • Creamy and velvety
  • Filling until dinner
  • Vegan and Gluten-Free

What’s In This Simple Carrot Lentil Soup?

I get fresh produce from my garden and from Misfits Market– they sell fantastic fruit, vegetables, & pantry staples at a discounted price. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out favorite produce for delivery. Get $10 off your first box here!

  • Red Lentils: I’d recommend red lentils over other varieties of lentil for this soup. I always have red lentils on hand for recipes. They are great to throw into soups, stews, and even chilis for a little extra protein!
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Vegetable Stock or Bouillon: I use Better than Bouillon’s Vegetable Base in all my recipes, because its reduced sodium and has an amazing flavor. I’d recommend a low or no sodium stock, so you can add your own salt to this dish instead!
  • Onion
  • Bay Leaves: a great addition to this dish, I always add bay leaves to my soups! When I used to live in California I had bay laurel trees in my backyard and would collect the dried leaves and cook with them. Always a great flavor addition to soups!
  • Herbs De Provence: give this dish a sophisticated flavor.Herbs deProvenceis a French spice blend of thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, and sage. It’s probably THE most used spice in my kitchen – you can get a jar of Herbs de Provencefor a few bucks on Amazonif you don’t have any already. I highly recommend this spice blend.
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Coconut Cream:to stir in for a silky finish. I like a full-fat coconut cream, which makes this soup really extra! if you eat dairy you can also add a dollop of crème fraiche or Greek yogurt instead.

Quick Cooking Soups Anytime

I’ve been cooking tons of pantry staple recipes lately, and have stocked way up on red lentils. They are an amazing source of plant protein and are packed with flavor.

I also love that red lentils cook so quickly – unlike other beans, these lentils can be cooked through on the stove top in about 30 minutes. No soaking or overnight prep required!

Pantry Lentil Soup Recipes for the WIN!

As you can see from the ingredients list, this is a pretty simple recipe that requires a few pantry staple spices, lentils, and produce. I always always always have a stash of carrots, onions, and garlic in our fridge.

No matter what I plan to make for the week, I always keep those 3 vegetables on hand. They last a long time in the fridge, go great in almost any meal, and are inexpensive to buy in bulk. My list of has some great ideas to cook with what is in your cupboards.

Easy Meal Prep Soups

This soup was so awesome to meal prep for a week of work lunches. Its easy to cook for #MealPrepSunday, requires little hands-on cooking time, and is packed with filling plant protein.

I tend to get a little snack-y in the late afternoon, and this soup was hearty enough to keep me full until dinner time! Which doesn’t happen too often. If you are having for dinner or planning to serve for company, it can easily be made ahead too, and reheated right before serving.

How Do I Make This Vegan French Carrot Lentil Soup?

Dietary Modifications

While this soup is naturally vegan and gluten-free, you can easily make this oil free by substituting the olive oil for vegetable stock.

If you aren’t vegan and you eat dairy, you can skip the coconut cream or cashew cream garnish and stir in crème fraiche or Greek yogurt.

More Hearty Vegan Soup Recipes You’ll Love!

Coconut Milk Cream of Mushroom Soup (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Mango Black Bean Chili (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Instant Pot Split Pea Soup with Sweet Potato (Vegan, GF, Whole30)

Mason Jar Instant Ramen Noodle Soup (Vegan, Low Sodium, Gluten-Free)

Vegan Ribolitta; Tuscan Kale and White Bean Soup (Vegan, GF Option)

Share This Vegan Lentil and Carrot Soup Recipe

If you make this easy French carrot lentil soup recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipes!

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French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (6)

French Carrot Lentil Soup

French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (7)Kelly Jensen

This French Carrot Lentil Soup is hearty, filling, and packed with vegetables. Made with red lentils, carrots, onions, and French spices, this soup is easy to meal prep!

4.96 from 22 votes

Print Recipe Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American, French

Servings 6

Calories 287 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven, or heavy lidded pot

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the onion and saute on low for 7 or 8 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Add the carrots, celery, onions, red lentils, bay leaves, Herbes De Provance, and Vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer the soup for 30 minutes until the red lentils are cooked through and the carrots soften.

  • Remove bay leaves, and with an immersion blender, blend the soup until it is completely smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, then puree small batches in a normal blender.

  • Serve warm with a dollop of coconut cream, cashew cream, or Craime Fraishe and a sprinkle of fresh thyme.

Notes

Save Money on Organic Produce!

I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can get $10 off your first box by clicking here!

If you think organic produce is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a look!

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 16gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 1809mgPotassium: 808mgFiber: 21gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 11088IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 6mg

Keyword Carrot Lentil Soup, Carrot Lentil Soup Vegan, French Lentil Carrot Soup, lentil soup with carrots, Oil Free French Lentil Soup

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Or tag me @theherbeevore in your photo on Instagram!

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French Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free) (2024)

FAQs

Does lentil soup contain dairy? ›

And not just any soup, but a hearty, creamy, filling bowl of hot soup. That's exactly what this Hearty Lentil Soup is. And bonus – it's also Dairy Free, Gluten Free. Make one adjustment by using vegetable broth instead of chicken, and you have a delicious and satisfying Vegan soup.

Should I soak lentils 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.

Why is my lentil soup not thick? ›

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.

Do French lentils need to be soaked? ›

Unlike other dried beans, there's no need to presoak these lentils, which makes them perfect for weeknight salads and pilafs! These lentils, also known as lentilles vertes, or green lentils in French, have the most intense flavor compared to all other lentil varieties.

What is a vegan substitute for milk in soup? ›

Soy Milk. One of the most popular dairy alternatives out there, soy milk is a plant-based milk alternative made from soybeans.

Why does my lentil soup taste bad? ›

A lot of types of bacteria (and sometimes other microbes) produce waste products that can taste "sour." And soup/stock is a good growth medium for microbes, which is why most food safety organizations recommend only keeping soup for 3-4 days in the fridge.

Why is my lentil soup tasteless? ›

Why does my lentil soup taste bland? Lentils have a relatively mild taste and take well to seasonings. 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.

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.

What is the difference between lentils and French lentils? ›

Of all the types of lentils, French lentils keep their shape the best. This gives them a toothsome bite in recipes, and they're highly prized for this pleasing texture. They're smaller than other green lentils and tend to be more expensive per pound.

What is French style lentils? ›

A variety of green lentils, French lentils are about one-third the size of regular lentils. With a slightly greenish-grey hue, they may appear more akin to gravel than a legume, and boast a peppery flavor. The thing that really makes French lentils stand apart though is their texture.

What are lentils called in French? ›

French Lentils (aka Lentilles du Puy)

This means that these speckled, greenish-bluish-greyish orbs, also called green French lentils or lentilles du Puy, retain their shape when cooked and have a pleasant, poppy texture.

Do lentils contain milk? ›

Green Lentils are dairy free. Green Lentils do not contain milk and should be safe for those with a milk allergy. Fig's dietitian team reviewed this note on green lentils.

What is lentil soup made of? ›

Made with dried lentils, fresh vegetables, flavorful spices, and hearty greens, it's simple, nourishing, and delicious. This lentil soup recipe might surprise you. Sure, it's simple. But that doesn't mean it's bland or boring.

Does soup contain milk? ›

Soup and Broth

Canned or boxed soups and meat or vegetable broths may contain some form of dairy, often milk solids. This includes the obvious cream-of-soups, but any soup or even plain broth isn't a sure bet. Instead, find a dairy-free dinner to serve the family.

Does Dahl contain dairy? ›

Not all dal is dairy-free. Some types can contain butter, ghee, yogurt, or even cream. But red lentil dal is often a naturally vegan dish that's simple to make. It uses primarily pantry ingredients, with everyday fresh additions, like garlic, onion, and lemon.

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