Hearty and filling, this Mediterranean Lentil Soup is a fusion of Middle Eastern, Moroccan, and Israeli flavors. Earthy hawaij seasoning mingles with ground lamb, fresh leeks, onion, peppers, and sweet potatoes, for a stew that packs in the nutrition without skimping on deliciousness. Whether you need a dose of comfort food or want to incorporate more produce into your diet, this soup is the perfect dinner for any day of the week, and like most soups, is even better the next day as the flavors develop! Serve alongside my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad for a full meal experience!
Tips For Making This Mediterranean Lentil Soup
- I use a hawaij seasoning blend from New York Shuk, but you can create your own mixture using turmeric, cumin, black pepper, coriander, cardamom, and cloves.
- I also incorporate New York Shuk’s harissa paste with preserved lemon, but if you only have traditional harissa paste on-hand, add in 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and a pinch of sea salt to mimic the preserved lemon.
- If you only have harissa powder on-hand, start by adding 1 tablespoon to the soup with the regular seasonings and after simmering, adjust to your desired level of heat. With the paste as listed, there should be a nice punch of heat, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming.
- Feel free to use ground beef instead of lamb if you can’t find any locally.
- I recommend grating whole nutmeg instead of using ground, the flavor is superior!
Mediterranean Lentil Soup
This hearty Mediterranean Lentil Soup is a fusion of Middle Eastern, Moroccan, and Israeli flavors. With earthy hawaij seasoning, this soup combines ground lamb and fresh produce for a stew that packs in the nutrition without skimping on deliciousness. Serve alongside my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad for a full meal experience!
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Servings: 6
Calories: 576kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup sweet yellow onion diced
- 1 cup leeks white parts, chopped
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 cup carrots diced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lb ground lamb
- 2 tablespoons hawaij
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 ½ cups green lentils rinsed
- 1 lb sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup harissa paste w/ preserved lemon
- 2 ½ cups baby spinach chiffonade
- 1 cup greek yogurt for serving
- 1 fresno chile sliced, for serving
- 1 handful fresh cilantro roughly torn, for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and leeks, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook until softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the carrot and bell pepper and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more, or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the ground lamb and cook until no longer pink, breaking up the meat as it browns, about 5 minutes. Add the hawaij, cumin, coriander, and nutmeg, then stir for 1 minute. Add the broth, lentils, sweet potatoes, and harissa paste with preserved lemon and stir until combined. Bring mixture to a low boil then reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 45 minutes, or until lentils are cooked and potatoes are softened.
- Adjust seasoning as desired, then stir in spinach until wilted and serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt, red chiles, and cilantro.
Notes
- I use a hawaij seasoning blend from New York Shuk, but you can create your own mixture using turmeric, cumin, black pepper, coriander, cardamom, and cloves.
- I also incorporate New York Shuk's harissa paste with preserved lemon, but if you only have traditional harissa paste on-hand, add in 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and a pinch of sea salt to mimic the preserved lemon.
- If you only have harissa powder on-hand, start by adding 1 tablespoon to the soup with the regular seasonings and after simmering, adjust to your desired level of heat. With the paste as listed, there should be a nice punch of heat, but it shouldn't be overwhelming.
- Feel free to use ground beef instead of lamb if you can't find any locally.
- I recommend grating whole nutmeg instead of using ground, the flavor is superior!
Nutrition
Calories: 576kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1226mg | Potassium: 1239mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 16980IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 7mg
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