Let's get warm with a bowl of healthy Filipino lentil soup! This dish is made with simple seasonings and ingredients that beginners and busy families can use. It's one of my favorite soups because it pairs well with steamed rice.
Get more veggies with my easy vegan binakol and green beans with black bean sauce recipes!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Filipino lentil soup is dairy-free and vegan. In under 30 minutes, you can make this dish for lunch or dinner. The ingredients are simple, but it's already warm and filling.
Lentils are very healthy because they're rich in fiber and plant-based protein. They make the soup more satisfying and keep you full longer. It also has kamote tops, which add extra nutrients.
You can keep this recipe regularly spicy or just mild if you have kids. And as the day passes by, the flavors deepen, and the food tastes better.
The Story Behind Filipino Lentil Soup
This dish is inspired by the simple way many Filipino homes cook soup. It brings together lentils and local-style vegetables like kamote tops. It is not a fancy dish. But it feels warm, practical, and nourishing.
Where Filipino Lentil Soup Comes From
This Filipino dish is an inspired home recipe. It's probably created from a simple lentil soup that tastes more familiar to families in the Philippines. Home cooks made it special by adding rice-friendly flavors.
When is this Dish Typically Enjoyed?
This soup is usually made during rainy days and cool evenings. It is also a good meal if you want something light but filling. You can enjoy it for lunch or dinner with steamed rice.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
- lentils
- water
- olive oil
- garlic
- onion
- ginger
- chilies
- salt
- mushroom seasoning
- cinnamon powder
- leeks
- kamote tops
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables
1. Mince the garlic, chop the onion, and grate or pound the ginger.
2. Remove the stems from the kamote tops and keep the leaves.
3. Wash the kamote tops well and set aside.
4. Slice the leeks or onion leaves.
Cook the Lentils
5. In a pot, add 3 to 4 cups water and bring to a boil.
6. Add the lentils and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until soft.
Sauté the Aromatics
7. In a pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
8. Add the garlic, onion, and ginger.
9. Cook until fragrant and slightly softened.
Season the Soup
10. Add the sautéed mixture to the pot with the lentils.
11. Add the chilis, salt, mushroom seasoning, and cinnamon.
12. Stir well and let the soup simmer for a few minutes.
Add the Greens
13. Add the kamote tops and leeks.
14. Cook just until the greens are wilted.
Serve
15. Turn off the heat and serve hot with steamed rice.
Substitutions & Variations
- Ingredient Swap
Instead of kamote tops or sweet potato leaves, try using malunggay, pechay, or spinach. - Variation
If you want a thinner soup, you can add more water.
You can also adjust the spice level by adding more or less chili. You can skip it too if you're not fond of spicy food. - Mistake to Avoid
Don't overcook the kamote tops! The leaves will become too soft and dull. Add them near the end so they stay vibrant and fresh.
Storage Tip
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.
The lentils and broth freeze well for up to 2 months. For best texture, freeze the soup without the leafy greens, then add fresh kamote tops when reheating.
FAQs
Classic Filipino Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 1 cup lentils
- 3-4 cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 small piece ginger pounded or grated
- 2 chilis optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pinch mushroom seasoning
- Pinch cinnamon powder or grated cinnamon bark
- 2-3 stalks leeks or onion leaves chopped
- 7 stems kamote tops leaves only, stems removed and washed
Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables
- Mince the garlic, chop the onion, and grate or pound the ginger.
- Remove the stems from the kamote tops and keep the leaves.
- Wash the kamote tops well and set aside.
- Slice the leeks or onion leaves.
Cook the Lentils
- In a pot, add 3 to 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.
- Add the lentils and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until soft.
Sauté the Aromatics
- In a pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
- Add the garlic, onion, and ginger.
- Cook until fragrant and slightly softened.
Season the Soup
- Add the sautéed mixture to the pot with the lentils.
- Add the chilis, salt, mushroom seasoning, and cinnamon.
- Stir well and let the soup simmer for a few minutes.
Add the Greens
- Add the kamote tops and leeks.
- Cook just until the greens are wilted.
Serve
- Turn off the heat and serve hot with steamed rice.
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Recipes for Every Moment
Had a long day? If you need some comfort food, make yourself some Filipino lentil soup! This healthy bowl can be ready in under 30 minutes!
Che says
This is so simple to make and healthy. Thank you for this recipe!