How to Make Italian Lentil Soup Recipe

This nutritiously delicious and hearty Italian lentil soup recipe is made with brown lentils, carrots, celery, onions and garlic of course in chicken broth with no bean soaking beforehand. It’s a great recipe for soup weather.

Italian Lentil Soup Recipe

When it comes to comforting and nourishing dishes, Italian lentil soup is a true rustic classic. Protein-rich lentils with  fiber, and a medley of aromatic vegetables, this soup is not only delicious but also incredibly satisfying.

I’ll walk you through the steps of creating a hearty and flavorful Italian lentil soup that will warm your body and soul during cooler weather months and satisfy even the picky eater or at least we’ll try. I know because I have one of those.

I grew up in a very Italian household. Both of my parents were (R.I.P.) Italian immigrants who came from the southern region of Italy. I’ve been to Italy many times and still keep in touch with my first cousins.

My mom was a fabulous home cook and honestly one of the best in her family! Therefore, I have lots of great, authentic Italian recipes.

“Zuppa di lenticchie” is the Italian term for “soup of lentils” to say lentil soup and it’s a tradition to eat it on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day for good luck, good health, and good fortune for the new year. 

This easy soup is absolutely delicious and perfect, in my opinion. Of course, if you like it saltier, you can either add more salt or use two extra cups of chicken broth instead of adding water.

This soup tastes better as it sits in its own juices and taste even better the next day.

Serve this hearty soup with crusty bread and you’ve got yourself a delicious little meal for lunch or a small dinner. 

You DO NOT have to soak the lentils before cooking them! That’s a step you don’t need to do and trust me the soup will taste wonderful. Just taste taste them to ensure they’re soft and you’re good to go. 

The lentils will soften as they cook and become flavored while doing so. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make this yummy, wholesome soup with nutritious ingredients! 

If you don’t like one of the veggies, simply omit it.

Ingredients

*The printable recipe is in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• dried brown lentils, rinsed and picked over
• extra-virgin olive oil 
• chopped yellow onions
• ​chopped carrots
• chopped celery
• garlic
• chicken broth
• water
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

First, rinse the lentils under cold water and pick out any debris or small stones. Then, in a large pot or Dutch oven, add the extra virgin olive (2 1/2 tbsp)

and garlic (3 cloves minced) and heat over medium heat.

 

Then, add the 1/4 cup each: diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.

 

Next, add the chicken broth (32 oz or 4 cups) and two cups of water. Next, add lentils (1 cup) and add them to the pot with the sautéed vegetables.

Then, cover and bring soup to a boil. Stir, reduce the heat to low and cook on medium-high heat for 40 minutes 

Last, add salt and black pepper to taste. Add a small drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or grated parmesan cheese to your bowl before serving, if desired.

Substitutions

• If you prefer a thicker, creamier soup, you can use an immersion blender to partially mash some of the lentils and vegetables. If the soup seems too thick, you can add a bit more chicken broth.
• Add spicy Italian sausage to make sausage lentil soup. Add it in the beginning when you add the olive oil and garlic and cook the Italian sausage for about 5-10 minutes until it’s browned and follow the instructions from that point on.
• Make this a Vegan soup simply by using vegetable broth or vegetable stock instead of chicken broth.
• Use homemade chicken broth for an out of this world lentil soup.
• Add  fresh, hearty kale in the beginning when you add the other vegetables.
• Add fresh spinach leaves at the end before serving as the spinach leaves will cook and wilt quickly.

This hearty Italian lentil soup recipe is a comforting and hearty soup that embodies the essence of Italian cuisine. With its earthy flavors, hearty texture, and abundance of wholesome ingredients, this delicious soup is perfect for cold days or when you simply crave a nourishing bowl of delicious goodness.

So get your ingredients, savor the aroma as it simmers on the stove, and indulge in a bowl of homemade Italian lentil soup. 

Buon appetito!