Chef John's Black Lentil Soup

4.8
(62)
51 Reviews
5 Photos

Use black beluga lentils for lentil soup instead of green. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with green lentil soup, but once you start using black beluga lentils, you’ll have a hard time going back. These beauties cook up melt-in-your-mouth tender but still retain their structural integrity, giving the soup a thick, satisfying body with a light, non-starchy mouthfeel.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on December 3, 2023
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Servings:
4
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

  • 4 ounces bacon, chopped

  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion

  • 1 cup diced carrots

  • 1 cup diced celery

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • 1 ¼ cups black beluga lentils

  • 5 cups chicken broth, or as needed

  • 1 bay leaf

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided

  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed

Directions

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir bacon in hot oil until browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion, carrots, celery, and salt; cook and stir until onion is softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Season with black pepper, cumin, thyme, and cayenne pepper.

  2. Pour lentils into bacon mixture and stir until completely coated in rendered bacon fat. Add chicken broth and bay leaf; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook, adding more chicken broth as needed, until lentils are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

  3. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Stir in 3 tablespoons parsley.

  4. Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle remaining parsley over top, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

329 Calories
8g Fat
44g Carbs
20g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 329
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Sodium 268mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 44g 16%
Dietary Fiber 21g 73%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 20g 40%
Vitamin C 14mg 15%
Calcium 76mg 6%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 892mg 19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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