Chicken and Red Lentil Soup
Chicken and Red Lentil Soup
Ingredients
For the Lemony Yogurt Topping
- 1 cup plain full-fat yogurt, regular or Greek
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- a bit salt
- as needed water, to thin, if using Greek yogurt
Instructions
- 1
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min
- 2
Add the 2 large thinly sliced onions to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are deeply caramelized, about 15-20 minutes.
⏱️ 20 min
- 3
Add the 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves to the pot and cook for another 1-2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Add the 1 1/2 cups of rinsed red lentils to the pot. Place the 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken thighs on top of the lentils.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Sprinkle the 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric, plenty of black pepper, and salt over the chicken and lentils. Toss everything in the pot to coat the chicken, lentils, and aromatics.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Pour in the 8 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the lentils break down and the chicken is fully cooked through, about 30-35 minutes.
⏱️ 35 min
- 7
While the soup is simmering, prepare the mixed herbs by finely chopping parsley, dill, and mint to yield 1 cup.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
In a separate small bowl, combine the 1 cup of plain full-fat yogurt and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Add a bit of salt to the yogurt mixture. If using Greek yogurt, thin the mixture with a bit of water until it reaches a desired consistency. Stir until smooth.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the pot and place it in a bowl. Shred the chicken using two forks.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Return the shredded chicken to the pot with the soup. Stir in the 1 cup of chopped mixed herbs.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Season the soup to taste with additional black pepper and salt if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Ladle the hot soup into serving bowls. Top each serving with a spoonful of the lemony yogurt mixture. Garnish with additional fresh herbs and a grind of black pepper if desired.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chicken and Red Lentil Soup
For the Lemony Yogurt Topping
- 1 cup plain full-fat yogurt, regular or Greek
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- a bit salt
- as needed water, to thin, if using Greek yogurt
Instructions
- 1
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min - 2
Add the 2 large thinly sliced onions to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are deeply caramelized, about 15-20 minutes.
⏱️ 20 min - 3
Add the 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves to the pot and cook for another 1-2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Add the 1 1/2 cups of rinsed red lentils to the pot. Place the 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken thighs on top of the lentils.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Sprinkle the 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric, plenty of black pepper, and salt over the chicken and lentils. Toss everything in the pot to coat the chicken, lentils, and aromatics.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Pour in the 8 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the lentils break down and the chicken is fully cooked through, about 30-35 minutes.
⏱️ 35 min - 7
While the soup is simmering, prepare the mixed herbs by finely chopping parsley, dill, and mint to yield 1 cup.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
In a separate small bowl, combine the 1 cup of plain full-fat yogurt and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Add a bit of salt to the yogurt mixture. If using Greek yogurt, thin the mixture with a bit of water until it reaches a desired consistency. Stir until smooth.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the pot and place it in a bowl. Shred the chicken using two forks.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Return the shredded chicken to the pot with the soup. Stir in the 1 cup of chopped mixed herbs.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Season the soup to taste with additional black pepper and salt if desired.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Ladle the hot soup into serving bowls. Top each serving with a spoonful of the lemony yogurt mixture. Garnish with additional fresh herbs and a grind of black pepper if desired.
⏱️ 2 min