Healthy & Easy Instant Pot Lentil Soup
A hearty and nutritious Instant Pot lentil soup, packed with vegetables, savory spices, and protein-rich lentils, perfect for a comforting and easy meal.
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Spoon/Spatula
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion small diced
- 4 medium carrots
- 3 stalks celery
- 4 springs fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ cups French green lentils
- 4 cloves garlic minced (about 4 teaspoons)
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 15 ounces
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 15 ounces
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
For Serving (Optional)
- fresh parsley Chopped, for serving
- Parmesan cheese Freshly grated, optional for serving
- Crusty bread optional for serving
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Drizzle oil into the Instant Pot and set to SAUTE. Cook the diced onion, stirring often, until it is very soft, browned, and breaking down, which takes about 8 minutes.
- While the onion cooks, dice the carrots and celery. Add them to the pot along with thyme springs, salt, smoked paprika, and pepper. Sauté for about 2 minutes until the carrots and celery are barely soft.
- Add the lentils and minced garlic to the pot, stirring to coat them in the spices, and cook for 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant. Then, add the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and vegetable broth.
- Cover and seal the Instant Pot, then set it to cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. After cooking, allow the cooker to release pressure naturally for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
- Open the lid and stir the soup, removing the thyme stems. If the soup is too thick, thin it with water or additional stock to reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then serve hot with a sprinkle of parsley, optional Parmesan cheese, and crusty bread.
Notes
The soup can be thinned with a bit of water or additional stock if you prefer a less thick consistency. Serve hot and consider adding chopped fresh parsley, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and crusty bread for a complete meal.