Charred Cabbage and Lentil Soup Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

kathy F

Because I used salted chicken broth, I cut the soy sauce in half. The recipe was still quite flavorful. I liked the earthy flavor of the charred cabbage. I used Gruyère cheese as a topping because it was what I had. It complemented the flavors nicely. I added a little cooked Italian sausage at the bottom of each bowl too. (Actually, the recipe would have been fine on its own.) I layered the two leftover servings in bowls and saved some of the crispy cabbage to top at serving time.

Miti

I loved this! I am a first time reviewer, but long time follower of NYTCooking and felt the urge to comment.As others have noted I thought I could add a bit more flavour by sautéing the onion, garlic, carrots, etc., which I believe it did. After I did this and added the lentils, I added about half a cup of white wine and let that reduce before adding in the stock. I also found adding about a tablespoon of Miso amped up the umami flavour to the max!

Golem

I haven't made this yet but it would seem that the onion and carrots should be sautéed first or roasted with the cabbage to get more char (Maillard effect).

MRBR

Charred cabbage! First time roasting cabbage like this and it will not be the last. It really makes the soup and it's delicious on its own. I am looking at cabbage in a whole new way. The soup is very good. I took some liberties with ingredient proportions but a recipe like this allows for variation as Ali Slagle points out. Delicious!

ttbert

First time reviewer and wanted to write one since this is a new recipe and it was just wonderful. My husband and I thought it was one of the best NYT recipes we have ever made (or any recipe) especially since it was fairly easy and ingredients that last a long time in fridge or pantry staples. Hint of French onion soup but with lots more depth and flavors. It was spicy but not too much. Next time I’ll do less pepper kids and add more to my bowl. Agree sausage would be good but not necessary.

Thia

Boy is this delicious. Used puy lentils because I had a cup. Sautéed aromatics first. Threw some caraway seeds on the cabbage while roasting and might add apple next time. Otherwise, as written. Why haven’t I been roasting cabbage during my one wild and precious life??

Jodyp

Loved this! I had red lentils on hand, so used those. I caramelized the onions with the thyme which gave it great flavor.

Beth

Delicious! I agree with the others who suggest chopping the cabbage after charring to make it spoon size and those who suggest sautéing the onions and carrots before adding water or stock. I added some of the cabbage to the soup while it simmered to deepen the flavor and it made a very flavorful broth. I’m looking forward to the leftovers!

Judy R

Am I the only one who found this to be very spicy? I would definitely reduce the amount of red pepper flakes the next time around. Otherwise, it is a delicious soup.

Bella

I think you're wanting to roast them like steaks or the cabbage will burn and/or dry out.

JM

If one doesn't have Parmesan on hand, would a dollop of white miso provide the desired umami?

Tracy

I used a red cabbage from my garden, it turned out delicious!

Linda M

Lentil soup recipe is nearly the same as I've made for many decades but really look forward to adding an new dimension with the charred cabbage. Cabbage is an underused and under appreciated veggie and always looking for ideas.

marianna

Can I use red cabbage?

Eric

I believe so. When we did it we pulled the cabbage apart. More surface area for olive oil and charring.

Esperanza

Right now a pot of this soup is simmering on the stove. After removing the charred cabbage from the oven, I used that pan to roast the carrots, chopped onions and garlic before adding them along with the cabbage to the lentils and broth seasoned with oregano, bay leaf and a pinch of rosemary. Great robust results!

Sheila C.

We really enjoyed this soup. Delicious earthy, umami flavors. I cooked it as written and this will definitely go into our regular rotation.

Mare

Love this elevated lentil soup with home-grown cabbage. I used all the herbs (bay, thyme sprig, rosemary sprig) and also let some stewed tomatoes fall apart in the soup. No cheese to make it vegan and a drizzle of basil oil took it over the top! Charred more cabbage for dinner #2.

Meredyth

What a delicious soup! I don't usually like cabbage or lentils, but this was delicious. I will make it again using some of the other reviewers' suggestions and double the recipe so I can freeze some. Making fresh cabbage for left-overs was a breeze.

Tai

The Parmesan rind ties all the ingredients together. Would be a pity not to use it. Delicious recipe, made it over and over this winter.

Jennifer R

MMM! I air-fried thick cabbage slices until they were crisp, about 14 minutes at 400 degrees and turned them halfway. A few leaves fell off and I coudn't resist sampling them. Sooo good! I was out of thyme so I used oregano, and it's wonderful. The cabbage really turns a budget dinner into a gourmet meal!

Marianne

This is a pretty ho-hum lentil soup and ho-hum roasted cabbage. I like lentil soup and love roasted cabbage, but in this case both are kind of plain and the sum doesn't make them any better. I added tomato paste to the lentils because I wanted to use some up, as well as celery because all soup of this type needs celery. Used bay leaf as herb. Was good, but not better than the sum of the parts. I sautéed onion etc. first, as per the usual method of making a soup like this.

smilespreder

This was a great Sunday treat. Cooked as presented no modifications. Will cook again.

karen

This is an excellent soup, so flavorful and so simple. I used chicken broth rather than water. I was tempted to sauté the vegetables first as others suggested, but I trusted the author. It is not necessary to take that extra time. Keep it simple and enjoy. I will be making this soup again and again.

We loved this reipe!

I sautéed the onion and added a bit more garlic and added a can of fire roasted tomatoes. It was hearty and delicious !

H

Great recipe! It was delicious and easy. Lentils aren't on my list of usual favorites I just wanted to try something new, glad I did!I did sauté the onions and carrots just out of habit, but otherwise followed the recipe.

MDufort

I wonder if the cabbage could be replaced with either swiss chard or kale that could be oven roasted? Any thoughts?

sarahsw

As other people suggested, I sauteed the onion and carrot before adding the broth.The cabbage took a bit longer than suggested.This was absolutely delicious! Definitely will make again

Sarah K

Like others, I had some issue building flavor. I ended up adding: mushrooms, 1/2 TBS miso paste, and a squeeze of lemon. I also sautéed the vegetables as others suggested. If you do not have a parmesan rind, I would say that making this with just water would be tough. Shrug. I don't know why this didn't work very well for me.

Linda

I made it with charred brussels sprouts.

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Charred Cabbage and Lentil Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I soak lentils before making soup? ›

The other good news: Lentils don't need to soak as beans do (though you do need to sort and rinse them before cooking). Different types of lentils cook in different amounts of time. Red lentils are the fastest cooking and they dissolve as they cook and make for a smooth soup.

What can you add to lentils to make them taste better? ›

You can also add salt, aromatics like a halved onion, herbs, and spices to the pot before the lentils and the water, like beans, or wait until they're done cooking to flavor them.

How long does homemade lentil soup last in the fridge? ›

Lentil Soup will easily keep for 5 days in the fridge, making it ideal for cooking on the weekend and serving throughout the week. And it also freezes 100% perfectly for 3 months – even longer!

What happens if you don't pre soak lentils? ›

Soaking: Unlike beans, lentils are small and cook relatively quick (in general, about 20-30 minutes) so they don't require pre-soaking. However, soaking lentils for a few hours or overnight may improve the digestibility of starches in lentils and an overnight soak can also reduce cooking time by about half.

What happens if you cook lentils without soaking? ›

Soaking naturally deactivates the harmful compounds and activates all the goodness of the seed and increases its nutritional value manifold. The process of soaking removes the gas-causing elements from the lentils. While legumes contain complex oligosaccharides, a type of complex sugar responsible for bloating and gas.

What spices go best with lentils? ›

Spices – Ground coriander provides warm earthiness, ground cumin has a slight bitterness that goes well with sweet lentils, sumac is astringent with a bit of puckery sourness, and crushed red peppers add a hint of a kick. Any mild to spicy red pepper will work, like Aleppo-style pepper.

Why is my lentil soup tasteless? ›

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. To do so, use aromatics like onions and garlic, include fresh or dried herbs, and season well with salt and pepper.

Why do I feel so good after eating lentils? ›

Lentils are rich in fibre, folate and potassium making them a great choice for the heart and for managing blood pressure and cholesterol. They are also a source of energising iron and vitamin B1 which helps maintain a steady heartbeat.

Is lentil soup good for your stomach? ›

Support your digestive system

Lentils are rich in a type of fiber that helps your digestive system work as it should and fuels good bacteria in your gut. Fiber may also help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. “Fiber plays an important role in regulating our bowels and protecting the immune system,” says Homan.

Can I eat 5 day old lentil soup? ›

For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days or freeze it. And avoid letting soup set at room temperature for more than TWO hours.

Does lentil soup taste better the next day? ›

Lentils are rich in protein, fiber, iron and folate. Lentil soup packs well for lunch in a leak-proof container, and it tastes even better the next day. This soup freezes and defrosts well. Make soup now and enjoy it later!

Is it okay to 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.

How do you thicken up lentil soup? ›

You can also use flour or cornflour to thicken a soup. Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer.

Is lentil soup good for your kidneys? ›

Lentils are an excellent source of plant-based kidney friendly protein, rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Whether used in a soup, salad, or main dish, lentils are a hearty, healthy addition to any meal. Buy lentils in dried, canned, or frozen forms.

How long should you soak lentils for soup? ›

In that book, I advise to soak lentils from four to twenty-four hours and then drain and cook them in the usual three cups of water. This brings the total cook time down to twenty minutes compared with thirty-five, a respectable times savings when you're starting from scratch on a weeknight.

Do I need to cook lentils before adding to soup? ›

Depends if they are red or green lentils. The red ones can be bunged straight in. I just rinse them and add to the soup, the packet says 30 mins cooking so it should be okay.

Why won't my lentils soften in soup? ›

Editor: First, I wonder how old your lentils are. If they're more than a year or two old, they will often stay crunchy in the middle no matter how long you cook them! Another trick is to wait to add salt or acidic ingredients until near the end of cooking. Take a look at our post on cooking lentils for some more help!

Which lentils do not need soaking? ›

Red lentils do not need soaking. Puy lentils don't need soaking (and are delish). Less sludgy than red or yellow.

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