Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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A soul-warming Moroccan sweet potato lentil soup recipe. This soup is made in the slow cooker and requires hardly any work at all. Plus, it makes the whole house smell warm and cozy!

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)

It about that time again!

SOUP TIME. Which,in my very humble opinion is the best kind of time there is. Unless it’s chocolate chip cookie time, which, goes without saying, is obviously better. And which obviously this is NOT. Ahem, what? Where were we? Detoxing. That’s right. Bringing you thismoroccan-style detox lentil soup loaded with all the goodness straight from yourrefrigerator plus pantry with tons of soul-warming spices to brighten up these cold, cold winter days.

Now that’s what i’m talkin’ about.

So January. We’re already half a week into 2017guys. How? But also – I don’t know if it’s just me – but is anyone else just nowofficially starting the detox from all the holiday eats and treats? Anees’ birthday is the day after New Years Day so we tend to get a slow start withthe whole January cleanse thing.

But with all of the birthdays and parties finally out of the way,i’m just itching to get another pot of this warm lentil soup on and am ready to hit the clean-eating reset button now.

Of course, lentil soup isn’t just limited to those of us that are desperate for a reset either. In fact, it’s even more delicious if you decide to serve it with pan-fried pita wedges and a healthy dollop of whipped greek yogurt orsour cream to just mellow out all those glorious spices.

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)

I kept this lentil soup completely vegan/vegetarian friendly so everyone can enjoy this. Know that it’s easy to make this a more protein packed meal though. Just sauté ground turkey, chicken, beef or lamb or any other kind of ground protein you like and add it straight into the crockpot with all the other ingredients. You’ve instantly got the perfect bagged lunch for the week. This lentil soup would also work well over a mound of fragrant basmati rice incase you like the whole Indian ‘daal’ scene. Lentil-anything was made to be paired with rice.

One of the best things about having a blog is getting to name all the recipes. I say that now. If you rewind back to a few years ago, you’d see thisdefinitely was not the case. I realize it’s important to be clear and precise when naming a recipe. With that said, this is a detox lentil soup recipe that comes loaded with all those wonderful cleansing ingredients that are like a toothbrush for our insides. And, yeah that’s totally weird, but go with it, will ya?

Added bonus : under 250 calories per serving.

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)

It all starts with the trinity – onions, carrots, celery. Then of course, tons of pressed garlic, which is a completely normal thing around here and it totally caught me by surprise that garlic has all these detoxing properties which NO BIG DEAL – but only it is. It’s HUGE. Love these kinds of happy coincidences. But, HOLD THE PHONE there’s more, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon. We all know about that turmeric trend of 2016 right? Let’s carry all the good things into ’17 with us now.Loaded with anti-inflammatory properties and perfect for when you’re a leeetle under-the-weather to boost your immune system.

Now here’s how simple this lentil soup recipe is. Grab all your ingredients, add them to a slow cooker and let them hang out of low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. One the lentils has softened all the way through, puree ½ of the soup in your blender and pop it back into the slow cooker along with tons of chopped baby spinach and just let it wilt. Pro tip: make this one day ahead for even more flavor. So pop it into the slow cooker when you get home from work tonight and into the fridge before you head to bed. Puree it when you get home from work tomorrow, add the spinach and just heat it through. Squeeze ¼ cup of lemon juice right into the slow cookeror serve lemon wedges on the side. It’s seriously the perfect spicy, tangy, veggieful soup ever.

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)

The hardest part about the whole thing is that it requires a bit of prepping, but if you buy store-bought mirepoix mix (ze onions, carrots, and ze celery) then all that really requires your attention is the sweet potatoes. And let me just say when it comes to customizing this lentil soup, you can easily swap the sweet potatoes for pre-diced butternut squash chunks and swap the brown lentils for greens or even use chickpeas along with all the other good stuff in this soup.

But here’s the thing – even with all it’s simplicity, it’s a warm, FEEL GOOD food.Kinda perfect for those of us that have decided to pack more lunches this year and make smarter choices.

It’s quick to throw together, completely straightforward, and easily adaptableto your dietary preferences.

It’s gotta gowith you to lunch this week!

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)

Yield: 6-8 servings

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup (Slow Cooker)

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time6 hours

Total Time6 hours 15 minutes

A soul-warming Moroccan sweet potato lentil soup recipe. This soup is made in the slow cooker and requires hardly any work at all. Plus, it makes the whole house smell warm and cozy!

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (7)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed into small pieces
  • 1 cup carrots, chopped
  • 1 cup onions, chopped
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 ½ cups green or brown lentils, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 ½ teaspoon EACH coriander ANDcumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder (or more to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon EACH smoked paprika, ground cinnamon, ANDturmeric
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 6-7 cups low sodium broth (vegetable or chicken)
  • 2 ½ cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup lemon juice or lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Place the sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, red bell pepper, garlic, lentils, spices, and 6 cups of broth intoa slow cooker. Cover and cook on the low setting for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Check the lentils for doneness. If you're lentils have been in the pantry for a while, note that they'll take a bit longer to cook through.
  2. Place half the soup into a blender along with a little additional broth (½ cup or so) and blend till smoothish. Alternately, you can use an immersion blender directly in the slow cooker but be sure to not blend all of the soup if you want it to have a chunkier texture. Add the puree back into the slow cooker. Stir in the baby spinach and lemon juice. Cover the slow cooker, unplug it, and allow the ingredients to just hang out for 30 minutes or so until the spinach wilts down.
  3. Season with salt, pepper and curry powder to taste as desired. Thin with additional broth to desired consistency. Serve warm with whipped greek yogurt, fried pita bread, and tons of fresh herbs (parsley or cilantro) on top!

Notes

  • MORE PROTEIN: You can sauté 1 pound of ground lamb, beef, chicken, or turkey and add it in with all the other ingredients to the slow cooker for a more protein-filled meal - note that you may need a little bit more of each of the seasonings to balance flavors when adding protein.

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

Is this a good choice for you?

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (8)

Based on8 servings.

Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (9)

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Winter Detox Moroccan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

What is Moroccan lentil soup made of? ›

Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft. Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender.

Why is my lentil soup bland? ›

Why does my lentil soup taste bland? Lentils have a relatively mild taste and take well to seasonings. To avoid a bland lentil soup, use a flavorful broth—whether that's homemade or store-bought chicken or vegetable broth. The other key is building flavor.

Do lentils soak up broth? ›

Broth: If you like a broth-ier soup, add more liquid (either broth or water). The lentils can also absorb the liquid as they soak. If you are reheating this soup, you may need to add more broth.

What is Moroccan lentil soup nutrition facts? ›

1 servings of moroccan lentil soup contains 407 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 72% carbs, 4% fat, and 24% protein. This is a good source of protein (47% of your Daily Value), fiber (57% of your Daily Value), and potassium (32% of your Daily Value).

How healthy is lentil soup for you? ›

Lentils have plenty of folate, iron and vitamin B1, which also support your heart health. Lentils may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, by lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure. One study found that eating lentils led to greater reductions in blood pressure than eating chickpeas, peas or beans.

What is the foam on top of lentil soup? ›

When cooking dal why does it create foam on the top? The grey foam that forms on top of a pan of lentils is caused by a substance in the beans called saponins. This substance lathers up in the water, just like soap – in fact, the word 'saponins' actually comes from the Latin word for soap, 'sap!

Why does my stomach hurt after eating lentil soup? ›

Eating lentils can cause gas and bloating because they're high in fiber that your body is unable to break down. While fiber plays a large role in supporting and regulating your digestive system and bowel movements, it can also produce bacteria that leads to cramping and gas pains.

What makes lentils taste better? ›

Add some salt, maybe a bay leaf, and maybe a clove of garlic (peeled but left whole). Some recipes will warn you to never add salt to beans or lentils while they're cooking (they say it'll prevent them from cooking through), but it's simply not true! Salt brings out their best.

Why do I feel nauseous after lentil soup? ›

Lentils are frequently cooked with strong spices, which can cause indigestion in some people. Lentils are a good source of potassium, however, too many lentils in the diet can cause hyperkalemia (symptoms may include vomiting, fatigue, irregular heartbeat and difficulty breathing) in people with poor kidney function.

Do I need to rinse lentils for soup? ›

Rinse. On occasion, you'll find small rocks or debris mixed in with dried lentils. To avoid eating them, rinse the lentils in a fine mesh sieve and pick them over before you cook them.

What happens if you don't soak lentils? ›

Is Soaking Beans Necessary? Don't worry about soaking lentils, split peas, or black-eyed peas (or cowpeas). Lentils and peas are softer than dried beans. They'll cook within 5 to 20 minutes without any soaking time.

Why are my lentils still hard after cooking? ›

If you don't want dry, hard lentils, make sure to keep a little liquid in the pot! You can always add a little more if the water is evaporating faster than they cook. Skip the soak. Lentils definitely don't need any soaking before they're cooked.

Can I eat lentil soup everyday? ›

Eating half a cup of cooked lentils gives you lots of essential nutrients and their high fiber content makes you feel full. However, the fiber in lentils can be hard for your body to break down. Eating too many lentils can cause gas, bloating, and cramping.

Is lentil or chickpea healthier? ›

Since lentils have more fiber, lentils win this round. Lentils contain more protein than Chickpeas. Both chickpeas and lentils are great sources of vegetable protein. However, since lentils have more of this healthy nutrient, lentils win this round.

What is healthier lentil or split pea soup? ›

Peas have 6 grams of fiber, less than the almost 9 grams provided by lentils. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, lentils provide 7 milligrams of iron, while split peas only have 2.7 milligrams. Both foods are beneficial sources of potassium, with split peas providing 750 milligrams and lentils 772 milligrams per 1 cup.

What is lentil soup made of? ›

Made with dried lentils, fresh vegetables, flavorful spices, and hearty greens, it's simple, nourishing, and delicious. This lentil soup recipe might surprise you. Sure, it's simple. But that doesn't mean it's bland or boring.

What is Lebanese lentil soup made of? ›

Lebanese Lentil Soup is rich, warming soup that combines red lentils, vegetables, curry powder, cumin and lemon juice. This soup naturally gluten-free and vegan, is easy to make and freezes well for later! Your family will love warming up to this soup in the cold months!

What is the difference between lentils and chickpeas? ›

Since lentils have more fiber, lentils win this round. Lentils contain more protein than Chickpeas. Both chickpeas and lentils are great sources of vegetable protein. However, since lentils have more of this healthy nutrient, lentils win this round.

Is lentil a bean or rice? ›

Legumes: Beans and lentils are both members of the common bean family, or the Fabaceae genus of plant, which is in the legume family.

References

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