Thai Red Curry Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes
Updated Jun 07, 2022, Published Feb 24, 2021
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Creamy vegan Thai-inspired Red Curry Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes delivers crave-worthy comfort and warmth in a hurry! It’s light yet satisfying and so easy!
Why This Recipe is a Keeper!
You know it as well as I do–after a full day, dinner needs to have minimal steps. My Thai Red Curry Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes is perfect when you’ve had a long day and need some comfort and warmth in a hurry.
This creamy, spicy soup has a complex Thai-inspired flavor but comes together quickly with purchased red curry paste.
This Thai Red Lentil Curry is:
- Easy!
- Freezer-friendly!
- Can be made in a slow cooker or the Instant Pot.
- Sooooo tasty!!!
How to make Thai Red Curry Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup:
Recipe Ingredients:
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this red curry lentil soup recipe. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:
- Red Curry Paste: I no longer bother making my own red curry paste after discovering the Maesri line of curry pastes at a local international market. These pastes have plenty of punch, are made from real ingredients, and flavorwise, beat grocery store brands hands down. Their Thai green curry paste is also fabulous!
- Red Lentils: Red lentils cook much faster than brown or green lentils and at approximately the same rate as sweet potatoes. You can use the other types of lentils but you’ll need to cook them longer than red lentils or cook them separately then add them to the soup.
- Vegetable Broth: If you’re not concerned about the soup remaining vegan, you can also use chicken broth.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Gather and prep the ingredients.
- Melt the coconut oil or heat the canola oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions, reduce the heat and cook until they’ve softened up.
- Add the garlic and the red curry paste and give it a quick stir.
- Then add the broth, sweet potatoes, lentils and tomatoes.
- Bring that up to a boil, then simmer until the red lentils and sweet potatoes are tender. Red lentils get super-soft but that’s what you want!
- Stir in the coconut milk and heat it through.
- Add cilantro and lime juice if using…
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
That’s it! Thai Red Curry Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes! Serve garnished with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.
Chef Tips and Tricks:
- It’s always a good idea to look lentils over for stones, sticks and odd-looking bits. I do this on an inexpensive white paper plate so I can easily add them to whatever I’m cooking. Place a small amount on the paper plate, look them over then bend the paper plate to easily add them to the soup or whatever you’re making.
- Vary the veggies! Not a sweet potato fan? Try regular potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, rutabaga or turnips.
recipe faqs:
Absolutely! This red curry lentil soup freezes great so make a double batch and freeze in small portions for delicious Thai comfort all winter long! Cool completely then place in containers in the amount desired.
Cook the onions and garlic on the stovetop as directed. Add the red curry paste and give it a quick stir. Transfer to your slow cooker and add the broth, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and lentils. Cover and cook on High for 3-4 hours or on Low for 6-7 hours. Add the coconut milk and heat through for 20-30 minutes keeping the slow cooker uncovered. Add the cilantro, lime juice and salt and black pepper to taste.
Yes! As with most soups and stews, lentil soup only gets better when it sits a day or two. Cool completely then refrigerate. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Yes, but it will probably be just as fast on the stovetop. Cook the onions and garlic. Add the red curry paste then add the broth, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and lentils. Cover and cook on High for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. Add the coconut milk, cilantro and lime juice and heat through uncovered.
More great vegetarian and vegan soups you’ll love!
- Italian Vegetable Stew
- Vegetable Barley Soup
- Vegetable Bean Soup
- Smoky Spanish Vegetable and White Bean Soup with Kale
Get all my soup recipes at Soups and Stews – From A Chef’s Kitchen.
Thai Red Curry Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola oil, or coconut oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons red curry paste, or to taste
- 6 cups vegetable broth, or chickren
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (1/2-inch cubes)
- 1 can (15-ounce) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 1/2 cups red lentils, picked over
- 1 can (14.5-ounce) unsweetened coconut milk, light or regular
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish if desired
- 1-2 tablespoons lime juice, optional
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large heavy pot such as a Dutch oven.
- Add the onion, reduce heat to medium and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until onion begins to soften.
- Add the garlic and red curry paste, give it a quick stir, then add the broth, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and lentils.
- Bring to a boil, cover slightly and simmer until potatoes and lentils are tender about 20 minutes. (Will be thick.)
- Add the coconut milk and heat through.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Stir in cilantro and lime juice if using.
Video
Notes
- Vary the veggies! Try regular potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, rutabaga, or turnips.
- Always look lentils over for stones, sticks and odd-looking bits. I do this on an inexpensive white paper plate to easily add them to what I’m cooking.
- Can be made up to 2 days ahead. Cool thoroughly.
- Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave for individual servings.
- Cool thoroughly and package as desired. Freeze up to 2 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
I’m thinking of making this soup and would like to add garbanzo beans. Would that affect the soup at all (in a bad way)?
Thanks.
Hi, KG, Thanks for your question! I think that would be fine. I don’t see how it could hurt. Hope you enjoy!
Is this soup spicy.
Hi, Anne, Thanks for your question. It can be spicy if you use the full amount of red curry paste called for. The red curry paste is what gives it an amazing flavor. Start with a teaspoon and work your way up. Thanks again and hope it works out for you!
Eeeek I don’t have any coconut milk. Can I sub in whole milk?
Hi, Victoria, Thanks so much for your question. Boy oh boy…. I don’t know. Not sure it will taste anything close to the way it’s supposed to taste. It will probably taste okay but just not have the punch it’s supposed to have. I also think the texture will be kind of thin. Perhaps add more red lentils to make it thicker? Thanks again and I’d love to know how it works.
I’m in the process of cooking this soup now. My house smells so good, warm and cozy! I can’t wait to taste it! The bonus is this is a one pot dish and clean up is super quick! I’m new to your blog and am super excited to find more recipes.
Hi, Tish! Welcome and thank you so much! Hope you enjoyed and please stay in touch!
We LOVE making this soup in our house. Can you recommend any side dishes that would go well with it?
Hi, Rose, I”m so happy to hear that you love this soup so much! What about my Thai Sweet Chili Green Beans? https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/thai-sweet-chili-green-beans/? Or, a green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette? Thank you and if I think of any other side dishes I’ll reply again.
Thank you for this great recipie, I made it today and will be taking it camping. It will be a great meal after a day of hiking.
Thanks, Maura! So glad you enjoyed and please stay in touch!
This soup is amazing! So flavorful. I haven’t made many soups, but I have to say this is definitely one of the best I’ve ever made.
Thanks, Teal! So glad you enjoyed! Soups are one of my favorite things to make. Hope you’ll try some of my others and that you’ll stay in touch!
Hi there! This recipe looks so good, but I don’t have a crock pot nor Dutch oven. What else could I use? Sorry, just getting into cooking more. Thanks!
Hi, Melissa, Glad you’re getting into cooking! Just use a regular heavy pot–like stainless steel with a thick bottom. If you use a light aluminum pot, things can burn on the bottom. Hope you enjoy!
Better than I thought! SUCH a good soup 🙂 I made it in the crockpot and it was perfect!
Thanks, Laurel! So glad you enjoyed!
This soup is so amazing ! Have been leaning toward a more vegetarian diet so this is perfect for us ! Tysm.
Thank you, Enid! Glad you enjoyed and please stay in touch!
I made this soup on the weekend and it is so good!! This recipe is a keeper for sure!
Thanks, Lisa! Glad you enjoyed!