Vegan, hearty, protein and fiber rich, plant based soup, perfect for the winter!
I have been wanting to post this soup recipe for a long time. This has been my go- to soup for a chilly day, and making it in the Instant Pot makes this one pot cooking, even easier. My family never tires of this soup served with some crusty bread. And I am happy to serve a healthy, plant- based meal that is protein and fiber rich.
Brown lentils are the most commonly found lentils and have a mild earthy flavor. They retain their shape after cooking and make a thick and hearty soup that is simply scrumptious! You may use any lentils that you like for this recipe.
Only thing that I have to plan ahead is soaking the lentils. I soak the lentils in plenty of water for about 6 to 8 hours and they are ready to go. I feel that onion, garlic, carrots and spinach pair very well with the flavor of lentils. When it comes to the spices, cumin, coriander and garam masala flavors just jump out at me. I used virgin coconut oil and added a touch of coconut milk to the soup, which makes the flavor linger longer on the tongue.
Look at these step by step photos to see how easy it is to make this one pot soup-

Curried Lentil Soup with Turmeric and Coconut milk- Instant Pot Recipe
- Soak 1 ½ cup lentils for 8 hours.
Ingredients-
- 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic
- 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 teaspoon INDFUSED brand turmeric powder
- 3 teaspoons INDFUSED brand C+C masala
- 1 ½ teaspoon INDFUSED brand garam masala
- 3 ½ cups soaked and drained lentils
- 3 ½ cups hot water
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 cups tender spinach leaves
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup coconut milk
To make the Curried Lentil Soup with Turmeric and Coconut milk- Instant Pot Recipe
- Heat the Instant Pot on ‘Sauté’ mode.
- Add the coconut oil and sauté the onion until it is translucent. Add the chopped garlic, stir and add the carrots. Give it one more stir and add the turmeric, coriander, cumin seed and garam masala powders. Stir for about 30 seconds, taking care not to burn the powders.
- Add the soaked lentils and stir to coat the lentils and carrots with the seasoned oil.
- Add the hot water and salt and switch off the ‘Sauté’ mode. Close the lid of the IP with pressure valve set to ‘On’. Press the ‘Beans’ button. This is true for my 6 quart IP. For my 3 quart IP, I manually set it to high pressure for 12 minutes.
- After natural pressure release, open lid. On ‘Saute’ mode again, add the spinach and the vinegar, stir, and add the coconut milk. Bring it up to a simmer and shut off the heat.
- Serve this delicious, hearty soup by itself or with crusty bread. I served it with my homemade sourdough bread! Delicious and so filling!
Enjoy!
Love,
<3
Sandhya
Sounds delish. Coconut milk is golden! 🌟
Thanks so much Gail!
Looks amazing, I made a similar one last week and it was delicious. Coconut milk really takes it to the next level.
So true Zeba!
Certainly good for a cold day. It does look different from the usual soups.
We are in the thick of winter here, so soups feel good. Thanks so much for your kind words.
I’m sure it does. 🙂
Wonderful recipe! Looks so yummy and creamy.
Thanks so much Megala!
This is such a delight to watch this beautiful bowl of health and nutrition filled soup. Immensely delicious.
Thanks Payal!
This soup looks and sounds so delicious. I love brown lentil, so will definitely try this one. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Thanks Vandana! Hope you like it as much as much as I do
A hearty soup full of lentils or other grains is what I love to make during the cold season. Turmeric helps to fight colds and coughs, so it is a great idea to add it to soups. Love how you’ve sprinkled a bit of raw chopped onion over the soup.
Thanks Mayuri!
Great flavors! Love such hearty soups in the winter. 🙂
Thanks Ronit!
I always cook lentil soup! Looks delicious Sandhya 🙂 Need to try your recipe esp using the instant pot. Thanks for sharing this with us 💕
Thanks maha. Do let me know how you like it.
Any one pot dish is welcome in our house, especially if it involves my favorite IP! I too am a fan of all Indian spices and carrot in my lentil soup! Looks so filling and inviting dear! A winner in my book!
Thanks so much Vanitha! Hope you are having a grand time in Mysore!
wonderful healthy and tasty recipe .Love the addition of coconut milk into it !
Thanks so much Nisha!
This sounds good with coconut milk, never added this in lentils with spinach. Perfect comfort for chilly weather here.
Thanks Swaty. Do try it. I love the addition of coconut milk in this soup.
A bowl ful of piping hot soup full of lentils is what I always look forward to have during the winter season.
The use of Turmeric is a lovely way to keep the colds and coughs at bay.
Lata
True Lata. Thanks so much!
This is such a great recipe for weeknight dinner. So easy to make and IP sure is my beat friend. I love the use of turmeric in the recipe. Definitely adds lot of flavor and health benefits too.
Thanks Sandhya!
Lovely soup prepared using plant- based ingredients… definitely this is a kind of soup preferred during chilli days
Thanks so much!
The soup looks so wonderful and delish Sandhya. I am sure addition of coconut milk would have taken it to another level….
Thanks Anshu!
Wow what a share.. I can totally feel the warmness of this soup . Addition of coconut milk definitely lifts up the taste and texture. Perfect for the season. Looks so delicious.
Thanks so much dear Ruchi!
This hearty and delicious soup is best to try in this season Sandhya, with all these warming spices and cooling coconut milk sounds absolutely amazing! Not to forget it’s a one-pot meal..win-win!
Such hearty soup for cold winter nights. Looks delicious and addition of coconut milk gives it a nice creamy texture.
Thanks so much Usha!
This is such a tasty soup for the cold nights. Loved the addition of coconut milk in it, it enhances the taste.
I adore curry and coconut milk, this sounds delicious. A perfect winter soup.
Thanks Liz!
Great post
The soup looks so wonderful and delish Sandhya. I am loved the addition of coconut milk in soup, sounds so delicious. A perfect & comfort winter treat.
Thanks so much Jolly!
This curried lentil soup looks so so easy to make Sandhya !! The IP version seems quite simple way. Turmeric and coconut milk used here are such healthy options surely 🙂
Thanks so much Sasmita!
Doesn’t look easy to prepare but still im gonna try…thanks for sharing recipe.