Bowl of Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup with naan bread, garnished cilantro and chili oil.

Spiced Butternut Squash Lentil Soup (Vegan)

Spiced Butternut Squash Lentil Soup is a soothing, nourishing, vegan soup, made especially warming with turmeric, curry and ginger.

Bowl of Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup with naan bread, garnished cilantro and chili oil.
Spiced Butternut Squash Lentil Soup (Vegan)

Spiced Butternut Squash Lentil Soup is a soothing, nourishing, vegan soup, made especially warming with turmeric, curry, and ginger.

Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup in a pot.

My nose is raw and I’m weak from coughing. But I’m on the mend. After a busy week where I was thankfully well enough to appear on camera for a client project, I came home, and my body, most likely sensing that it was allowed to get sick, basically shut down and I found myself in bed all weekend. All I wanted was hot ginger tea and soup.

Normally, my go-to soup is arroz caldo, which I especially love because of the ginger and garlic that soothes. But I wanted something a little more hearty, where I could sneak in as many veggies and nutrients as possible. So I started chopping my Filipino version of the Trinity (garlic, onions, and ginger) and searching the fridge and pantry to see what I could do to make this the most wholesome, nourishing soup ever.

Ingredients for Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup

Spices for Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup.

Herbs for Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup

Out came some butternut squash and lentils. And from the spice cabinet, more ginger, turmeric, and curry. I wanted this soup to warm from within, to help me detox and regain my strength.

Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup in a pot.

As I stirred the soup on the stove, I realized that this soup would have been a perfect candidate for the pressure cooker, and I could have saved some time. But when you’ve been in bed for 48 hours, it feels good to stand and tend a pot of soup, you know?

Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup in a bowl.

To give it a little extra flavor, a splash of balsamic vinegar and hot chili oil was all I needed. My husband opted for some chopped pickled jalapenos. The kids went for the naan, dipping into it like a creamy dal. It was just what we all needed this perpetually cold and wet week, and I like to think it helped me recover faster, too.

Looking for more soothing soups? Try these recipes to warm you up:

Arroz Caldo | Filipino Chicken and Rice Soup
Chicken and Asparagus Sotanghon (Glass Noodle) Soup
Roasted Tomatillo Chicken Soup
Roasted Tomato, Garlic and Herb Soup
Chicken and Herb Spaetzle Soup

Spiced Butternut Squash Lentil Soup (Vegan)

Spiced Butternut Squash Lentil Soup is a soothing, nourishing, vegan soup, made especially warming with turmeric, curry, and ginger.
Bowl of Curried Butternut Squash Lentil Soup with naan bread, garnished cilantro and chili oil.
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5 from 5 votes
Course Soup
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 237kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 2 inch piece fresh ginger peeled
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 4 cups chopped butternut squash
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup lentils
  • 6 cups vegetable stock
  • 1/2 cup plain almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • kosher salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 cups mixed greens spinach, baby kale and chard work well)
  • fresh cilantro for garnish
  • hot chili oil for garnish, optional
  • pickled jalapenos for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven or soup pot, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Sauté onions, garlic and ginger until transparent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the curry powder, turmeric, ground coriander, and ground ginger, and cook for another minute to let the spices toast.
  • Add the butternut squash, salt, lentils, and vegetable stock, and bring to boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, then cover the pot, and allow to cook, stirring periodically, for about 30 minutes or until the lentils are fully cooked and tender.
  • Remove the ginger and discard.
  • Using an emersion blender, blend the soup until the squash is fully mashed and the soup is your desired consistency — I like to keep mine a little chunky. This can also be done by blending a portion of the soup in a blender and returning it to the soup.
  • Stir in the almond milk and balsamic vinegar, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Stir in the mixed greens and give it a minute to wilt.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro, a drizzle of chili oil or as my husband like it, with pickled jalapeno. Serve hot with bread - toasty naan is delicious with it.

Nutrition

Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 1368mg | Potassium: 755mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 10660IU | Vitamin C: 28.5mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3.8mg
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Comments

Recipe Rating




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    • Liren Baker

      Hi there! I believe you probably meant to share/email this recipe, but it looks like you left a comment instead! Next time, there is an email button under the “Share This” part under the recipe card that should help. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

      Reply
      • Sarah

        How can I ensure my lentils stay as is and have the squash pureed like in your photo? Do I need to cook them in stages?

      • Liren Baker

        Hi Sarah! There is no need to cook the lentils in stages. You add them all together along with the squash and vegetable stock (step 2), and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. I pulse it just a few times with an immersion blender to achieve that texture. I hope that helps!

  1. Jane Holloway

    5 stars
    Made this but chopped the ginger & left it in. Definitely a ‘go to’ recipe.

    Reply
  2. Letty / Letty's Kitchen

    5 stars
    Fabulous recipe. I grated the ginger and left it in the soup. We didn’t have pickled jalapeños or chili oil, but my hubby added siracha swirls. Used my Instant Pot–10 minutes.

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      Hi Letty – I’m so glad you loved the soup! Grating the ginger is a great idea, and I think I have no choice but to make it in the pressure cooker from now on. How can you beat 10 minutes?

      Reply
  3. Mary

    5 stars
    Liren, this recipe is absolutely delicious and exactly my kind of ‘stick to your ribs’ soup. I made it last night for Sunday Supper and couldn’t have been more happy with how it turned out. So satisfying. The only change I made was swapping light coconut milk for the almond milk since that is what I had on hand. This one is going into my soup rotation line-up. Delish!

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      Mary, I’m SO glad that the soup wins a coveted spot in your soup rotation! That means so much!! Light coconut milk is a delicious swap that I love, too! xo

      Reply
  4. Sabrina

    5 stars
    so much better than my go to lentil soup recipe, that I’ve grown tired of, so really appreciate your use of butternut squash and the curry flavors in this dish, thank you

    Reply
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