This vegan Middle Eastern lentil soup is both creamy and rich, offering a delightful blend of flavors. In just 10 minutes, with 5 minutes of cooking time in the pressure cooker, you can have a hearty meal ready to serve.
Sauté Aromatics: Press the sauté button on your Instant Pot and add the olive oil. Once heated, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add Vegetables: Add the diced carrot and potato to the pot. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine Ingredients: Add the washed lentils to the pot and mix well with the vegetables.
Season: Add the chicken bouillon cube, salt, black pepper, and cumin. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
Add Water: Pour in the hot water and mix everything together.
Pressure Cook: Cancel the sauté mode. Close the lid and set the pressure cooker to cook on high for 5 minutes.
Release Pressure: Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick release by carefully placing a towel over the steam valve to prevent splattering.
Blend Soup: After it’s safe to open, use an immersion blender to blend the soup until it reaches a creamy consistency.
Add Lemon Juice: Stir in the lemon juice and fresh parsley. If you prefer a thinner soup, add more hot water to reach your desired consistency.
Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with crunchy pita bread and an extra squeeze of lemon if desired.
Notes
1. Adjust Consistency: If the soup is too thick for your liking, add more water after blending to achieve your desired consistency.2. Enhance Flavor: Feel free to add more lemon juice to suit your taste preferences.3. Customize Spices: You can substitute the spices with those you prefer, such as adding a pinch of paprika or turmeric for a different flavor profile.4. Alternative Cooking Method: If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can cook the soup in a regular pot. However, it will take longer to cook, so plan accordingly.5. Serve with Bread: Serve the soup with crunchy pita bread for a satisfying meal.