Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Name: Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 27 min
Total time: 32 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 Vidalia onion (chopped); 1 purple onion (chopped); 4 carrots (chopped into little chunks); 2 stalks celery (thinly sliced); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper (a few shakes is fine); 3 teaspoons garlic paste (or 2 garlic cloves, crushed); 32 ounces beef broth (use vegetable broth for vegetarian version); 2 cups water; 1 teaspoon cumin powder; 1/4 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or 7 shakes); 1 1/2 cups lentils (rinsed and picked over for rocks, green or which ever you prefer); 1 teaspoon ground thyme; 2 bay leaves; 2 tablespoons tomato paste

ByElaine Posted onMarch 19, 2018January 25, 2023 Updated onJanuary 25, 2023

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You are going to love how quick and easy this instant pot lentil soup is. It’s hearty, comforting, warming and totally delicious!!

Closer look of the 2 crocks of lentil soup with a plate of pita rounds and more soup in the background

Do you love soup? Do you gleefully anticipate eating it when you order it at a restaurant? Do you squeal just a little bit when you know you are having it that evening for dinner?

Or do you just like it? You think, “Oh good, soup”, but you don’t squeal or anticipate it with bated breath.

I LOVE it. And one thing that makes me super happy is, although Christopher used to like soup, he has now come around and jumped on the soup-loving bandwagon!

Mission complete.

Now, how did I feel about lentil soup?

It was always a hit or miss for me. Years ago, when I made it myself, I’d either cook it too little or cook it too much. Cook it too little and the lentils are not quite done. Cook it too much and the lentils are mushy.

I’d eat lentil soup if someone served it to me but I stopped making it myself.

If you’re not into soup but love lentils, try my IP lentils. So good and they make the perfect taco stuffer and side dish.

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Why I started making it myself again

During the winter, we got the biggest snowfall of the year and although Mr. Landlord always helps us shovel, this one storm, he had hurt his hand and Christopher and I had to shovel by ourselves.

It really was no big deal.

Still, Mrs. Landlord showed her appreciation by making us some lentil soup. Christopher and I ate it for dinner that night and I was delighted because it was so delicious.

Now, since I had my newly acquired instant pot, I decided to try making lentil soup again and boy, am I glad I did!! While Mrs. Landlord’s lentil soup was delicious, mine is spectacular!

Yes, that’s me patting myself on the back.

Helpful tips

Any color of lentils will work but I like green lentils best in this soup.
Use two different onions – purple and yellow or Vidalia as it gives it a nice flavor.
When you press the sauté button, let it heat up until the display says HOT before adding oil and let that heat up for another minute.
You can make this vegetarian or vegan if you prefer, just leave out the broth and substitute it with either veggie broth or water.
As the IP comes to pressure, allow for an additional 10 – 15 minutes. It really depends on how full the instant pot is.
Always protect yourself from the steam by donning an oven mitt when either doing a quick release or opening the lid.

How to make lentil soup

Pre-step

Get your instant pot or pressure cooker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – purple onion, Vidalia onion, carrots and celery.

Purple onion, vidalia onion, carrots and celery on a greyish board

Step two

Chop the onions, carrots and celery in smallish chunks. (A)

Step three

Gather the broth, herbs and spices, red pepper flakes, green lentils, tomato paste and bay leaves. (B)

Veggies cut up on the left and herbs and spices on the right

Step four

Turn the IP on, press the sauté button and wait for the display to say HOT. Add olive oil and onions and sauté for 4 minutes.

Step five

Add chopped carrots, celery, garlic paste, herbs and spices, salt and pepper and continue to sauté for 3 minutes.

Step six

Add beef broth, water, tomato paste, bay leaves and lentils.

Step seven

Seal IP, make sure the venting knob is set to sealed. Press the soup/stew button and cook at normal for 20 minutes.

Step eight

When the IP timer dings, either let the IP release the pressure naturally or you can wait 5 minutes, then don an oven mitt and release it quickly by tapping the venting knob.

Transfer soup to a serving dish. I pour use my much loved casserole dish from Burlington Potters and get ready to serve it.

Soup done and in a big mustard colored bowl with crocks and pita rounds in the background

I ladle some soup in our crocks and gather some cute little pita rounds. Have you seen these pita rounds before? They are adorable and fun to dip in the lentil soup!

Two crocks of soup, salad, pita and big bowl of lentil soup in the background

Delicious!

Let’s look at a different view. A close up!

closeup view of the crocks of lentil soup, salad and pita in the background

Other popular soup recipes

I hope you enjoyed this Instant pot lentil soup recipe as much as Christopher and I do.

Please feel free to leave me a comment. Do you love soup as much as I do?

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!