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

Why is my lentil soup tasteless? ›

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.

Can you overcook lentils in soup? ›

This time, it turned out mushy and there wasn't a whole lentil to be found. Damn it! I figured out later that it spent about 2.5 hours too long in the slow cooker (a little miscalculation on my part). If you're like me and have overcooked Lentil Soup then you're in luck because I'm going to show you how to revive it.

Is canned lentil soup healthy? ›

Soups that contain veggies, beans or legumes provide a wide range of beneficial vitamins, minerals and nutrients, like fiber. Seek out garden vegetable, minestrone, split pea, lentil or black bean soup to get a variety of nutrients in your meal.

How to make canned lentil soup better? ›

Go green: Add some spinach or chopped kale or pesto. Get zesty: A squirt of lemon juice or zest could brighten up an otherwise flat soup. Starchy things: Homemade croutons, crushed tortilla chips, or oyster crackers. Clean out the fridge: got cooked beans or rice, a dollop of sour cream, or a splash of heavy cream?

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.

How can I deepen my soup flavor? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

Do you rinse lentils before making 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 color lentils are best for soup? ›

Red lentils are the fastest cooking and they dissolve as they cook and make for a smooth soup. Others, such as green and brown lentils, hold their shape and make a soup with more texture.

Do you simmer lentils covered or uncovered? ›

Place lentils in a large pot with at least 2 inches of unsalted liquid covering them. Bring to a rapid simmer. Reduce heat to very low, so only slow bubbles appear. Cook your lentils uncovered on low heat for 20-45 minutes (based on the variety) to plump them up while avoiding split skins and mushy results.

What is the healthiest vegetable soup in a can? ›

Amy's Organic Low Sodium Lentil Vegetable Soup is one the healthiest canned soups because it's made with non-GMO, organic ingredients, is low in sodium, and is a great source of protein and fiber. With 11 grams of plant-based protein and 8 grams of fiber in one can, this lentil vegetable soup is filling and nutritious.

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 soup good for losing belly fat? ›

At Spatz we know that lentils for weight loss are nutritious foods high in protein and fibre and low in fat, which are a tasty addition that helps reduce belly fat. You can quickly boil them and add them to your nutritious diet today to enjoy the benefits of lentils for weight loss.

What can I use to thicken lentil soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

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. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Do I need to rinse canned lentils? ›

A common concern with canned lentils is the high sodium content used to preserve the lentils. The best way to deal with the issue of sodium is to be sure that you rinse your canned lentils under running water – this will remove up to 60 per cent of the sodium content.

Should I drain canned lentils? ›

Dried lentils have no sodium (salt) but canned lentils often do. Reduce the sodium by draining and rinsing canned lentils under cold, running water or buying canned lentils with no added salt.

How do you fix bland lentils? ›

Follow this tip: Add a few cloves of garlic, a bay leaf, a spring of rosemary, half of an onion, or a combination of these aromatics to the cooking water or stock to help flavor the lentils.

How do you fix flavorless soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

How do you fix salty lentil soup? ›

Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme can help to mask the saltiness of soup, too. Add a small amount of fresh herbs to the soup and stir until well combined. Acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, or tomatoes can also help to reduce the saltiness of soup.

Why does my bean soup have no flavor? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

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