Mexican Lentil Soup (Sopa De Lentejas)

This Mexican lentil soup recipe is made with carrots, celery, onions, chicken broth, and the obvious- lentils! Your family will love this easy lentil soup so much, they’ll be asking for a second serving. It uses just a few simple main ingredients, but the end result is full of flavor! Just you wait and see.  

Back at home in Mexico, my husband was constantly asking me to make him different kinds of soups because it is one of his favorite meals, especially this "sopa de lentejas" (along with Chorizo Lentil Soup).

In Mexico, lentil dishes are very popular during the Lent Season, and they’re a favorite among people trying to keep with their meat fasting during the Holy Week.

On the plus side, lentils have a high protein content, making them an excellent meat substitute.

History Behind This Lentil Soup Recipe

If you didn't know already, this soup dish has a lot of Spanish culinary influence.

The American conquest served to enrich so much of our cuisine, and the Spanish brought with them many ingredients that we use in our dishes every day.

Some of these include:

• Carrots
• Radishes
• Chard
• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Purslane
• Celery
• Peas
• Wheat
• Millet
• Lentils
• Oats
• Fava Beans
• Rice
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Pepper.

They also brought with them animals like goats, ducks, pigs, etc.

All of these ingredients would change the way the native Mexicans cooked over time, and our cuisine wouldn’t be what it is today without them.

My Secret To Making This Mexican Lentil Soup Taste Amazing

I'm going to let you in on a little secret that will really elevate this dish and intensify the flavors...

When cooking this soup, make sure to use the freshest and highest quality products to ensure the best results.

Why do you ask? Well, when you cook with legumes or vegetables that have been in your pantry or fridge for a long time, the meals can come out lacking in flavor.

I remember when I was growing up how the housewives used to go to the market every day to buy the meat and vegetables for the day’s cooking. Yes, every day! There are still some places in Mexico where people buy the ingredients for their cooking every day.

No wonder the meals our grandmas used to cook tasted like heaven!

Everything was fresh, and like so many chefs still do nowadays, the home cooks back then bought their ingredients the same day they prepared them. I'm not saying that you have to go out and do the same, but just make sure that you have quality ingredients.

I promise you, your family will enjoy that!

Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican Lentils

Before I share my recipe for sopa de lentejas, here are a few questions I've been asked about this homemade soup.

Is lentil soup good for you?

Yes! Lentils are low in calories but packed full of iron and other healthy vitamins. Many vegetarians supplement their meals with lentils as a healthy source of protein.

Do I use fresh or canned lentils?

It's really up to you and the amount of time you have available. I prefer to use dried lentils when making soups. I will soak and rinse them off before adding them to my lentil soup. Just keep in mind that some lentils varieties take longer to cook than others.

Canned lentils also work really well. The main issue with canned lentils in my opinion is the added sodium. It will sometimes make the soup too salty so just be mindful of that.

Do the lentils need to soak before adding them to the soup?

If using dried ones- yes. Make sure to let them soak and rinse them off before using.

What kind of lentils are best to add to lentil soup?

For this specific lentil soup recipe, I prefer to use green and brown lentils. They tend to hold their shape more and add a really nice texture to the soup. Sometimes with red lentils, they tend to get too soft for this soup. I like fir it to still have a bite to them.

Can I make this lentil soup vegetarian?

Absolutely. Simply swap put the chicken broth for some vegetable broth.

What kind of meat protein can I add to this Mexican soup dish?

For this Mexican soup recipe, I sometimes like to add some of my homemade chorizo Mexicano to make a Chorizo Lentil Soup.

You can also add in some chunks of short ribs or chicken thighs.

Mexican Lentil Soup Recipe

Here is a list of ingredients you will need:

• Olive oil
• White onion
• Garlic clove
• Celery
• Carrots
• Lentils
• Chicken broth
• Parsley
• Salt and pepper
• Lime wedges

Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

How To Make Easy Lentil Soup: Step By Step Tutorial

To make things easier for you, I am going to breakdown the directions to this recipe into sections.

Prep The Soup Base

• Heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the onions and garlic for 5 minutes over medium heat.
• Add the celery and carrots and cook for 10 minutes at a lower temperature.

Add The Lentils

• Stir in the drained lentils along with the chicken broth and the parsley.

Let The Soup Simmer

• Bring the lentil soup to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
• Let the soup cook for 25-30 minutes. Remember, cooking time will depend on the lentil variety you use in this recipe.
• Once it's ready, season the soup with salt and pepper.

What To Serve With This Lentil Soup Recipe

I personally like to serve this lentil soup in small bowls and top it off with a few drops of lime juice. You can also serve this soup with a hunk of baguette bread to really soak up the flavorful broth.

More Mexican Soup Recipes To Enjoy

If you enjoyed this recipe for lentil soup, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:

• White Menudo Soup
• Mexican Black Bean Soup With Chorizo
• Beef Birria
• Cream Of Zucchini Soup (Sopa De Calabacitas)
• Mole De Olla Soup

I hope you make this recipe for Mexican lentil soup! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!

Buen provecho!

Mely

📖 Recipe

Lentil Soup

Mely Martínez

Your family will love this easy lentil soup so much, they’ll be asking for a second serving! At home, my husband loves soups, and this lentil soup is one of his favorites (along with Chorizo Lentil Soup). It uses just a few simple main ingredients, but the end result is full of flavor!

4.69 from 22 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Soups

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6

Calories 245 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
• ▢ ⅔ cups white onion finely chopped
• ▢ 1 large garlic clove minced
• ▢ 1½ cup of celery finely cut (2 large stalks)
• ▢ ⅔ cups carrots diced
• ▢ ½ lb. Lentils about 1-⅛ cup (well washed and rinsed)
• ▢ 6 cups of chicken broth*
• ▢ 2 sprigs of parsley finely chopped
• ▢ Salt and pepper to taste.
• ▢ Lime wedges to serve

Instructions

 

• Heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the onions and garlic for 5 minutes over a medium heat.
• Add the celery and carrots and cook for 10 minutes at a lower temperature.
• Stir in the drained lentils, 6 cups of chicken broth, and the parsley. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for 25-30 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Remember, cooking time will depend on the lentil variitu you use for this recipe.
• Serve your Lentil Soup in small bowls, add a few drops of lime juice, and enjoy!

Notes

Homemade chicken broth is the best choice for making this soup, but you can substitute it with 6 cups of water and 2 chicken bouillons.

In Mexico, people used to cook with Spanish olive oil, and some still do, but these days Italian olive oil is becoming more popular.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 11gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 1198mgPotassium: 682mgFiber: 12gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2570IUVitamin C: 20.5mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 3.7mg

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