Mexican Lentil Soup, or Sopa de Lentejas, is a warm and comforting dish that’s easy, filling, and full of amazing flavors.
Made with lentils, vegetables, and a light tomato broth, this soup is perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends at home.
Best of all, it’s easy to customize with toppings or extra vegetables to make it your own.
👩🏼🍳 Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot on medium-high heat.
- Sauté the carrots for 2 minutes.
- Add white onion. Stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
- Then add the rinsed lentils and add to the pot and plenty of cold water.
This Mexican lentils recipe is a very adaptable recipe using staple, simple ingredients. To add more flavor and depth, use chicken broth, vegetable broth, or bouillon cubes instead of water.
Types of Lentils
You can substitute brown lentils for green lentils. Both hold their shape well and are similar in taste. Red lentils tend to melt easily, and if you want a smoother lentejas soup, this variety works well and great for kids.
- Add the garlic cloves, salt, and bay leaf to the soup pot.
- Reduce to medium heat and boil for 25 minutes.
Please note that this lentejas recipe is completely vegan. Change it up and make it your own.
🥣 Variations
Some people add cloves, cinnamon, ground cumin, or fresh cilantro to the soup. Many people like to add Mexican chorizo or crispy bacon, top it with dashes of hot sauce, or add a squeeze lime juice. If you want veggies, try calabacitas or Italian zucchini, celery, green beans, potatoes, or peas. For a little spice, add 1 diced jalapeno pepper.
- Add the tomato sauce.
- Simmer 10 minutes.
The tomato sauce will thicken the soup slightly and some of the liquid will have evaporated. For a really thick soup, add tomato paste and cook for 10 minutes. Or add chicken broth to make it more liquid-y.
🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
No. Lentils don’t need to soaked, but if you soak them, it reduces the cooking time in half.
In the fridge, the soup lasts 3-4 days in a airtight container.
In the freezer, it can last up to 6 months in a sealable plastic bag.
Place leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl, cover, and reheat for 2-2 ½ minutes on high. Or place in a pot and cook on medium for 3-4 minutes.
🍲 More Mexican Soup Recipes
Mexican Lentil Soup, or Sopa de Lentejas, is simple comfort food that’s nourishing, flavorful, and easy to make any day of the week. It’s one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day and always hits the spot. Serve a bowl of this soup with warm tortillas or crusty bread for a cozy and satisfying meal.
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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Mexican Lentil Soup, or Sopa de Lentejas
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- ½ onion diced
- 1 lb. lentils
- 10 cups Water
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup tomato sauce
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large stock pot.
- Saute the carrots for 2 minutes.
- Add the onions. Cook for 1 minute.
- Rinse the lentils and add to the pot.
- Add water, garlic, salt, and bay leaf.
- Cook for 25 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce.
- Cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until lentils are soft.
- Remove and discard the bay leaf.
- Serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- In the fridge, Sopa de Lentejas last 3-4 days.
- In the freezer, Mexican Lentil soup can last up to 6 months.
Nutrition
This post was recently updated. You might remember the old picture.
I just love lentil soup! I’ve never had it the Mexican way though, this looks like a fun twist I can try.
So glad to hear this. Super yummy!
I could Eat soup year round. Mexican lentil soup sounds delicious
Me too. Soup is delicious. 🙂
I don’t see how this recipe is Mexican. It’s pretty standard lentil soup. How bout some seasoning to give it a Mexican taste.
This is how I make the soup. I usually serve it with bolillo and sliced pickled jalapeno.
This looks so good!! I totally need to make this, thanks for sharing this recipe
Thanks. Hope you make it.
I adore soups and this one looks really good. I love lentals. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed this!
Although I am not big on lentil soup, the rest of my family loves it but we’ve not tried the Mexican version.
It’s delicious. Hope you try it
I love lentil soup but I also add a little cumin and a tiny pinch of oregano for a smoky taste. That gives it a Mexican flavor
Yes, very yummy. 🙂
Good tip on cooking the brown lentil beforehand so they keep their shape. And for the record, I always like soup better than chicken nuggets. 😉
Glad it was useful!
Lentils are great in soup. I’ve not had any Mexican ones yet. I must try this!!
So glad you enjoyed this! Hope you try it
My mom’s been into lentils lately ever since she had heart surgery. I think she would really love this soup!
I think so too! It’s delicious
This looks really good. I haven’t actually had lentil soup before. I think I have lentil beans too, so I’ll have to try this.
It’s delicious. Hope you try it
This soup looks and sounds so delicious. I would like to try this soup.
It’s amazing! Hope you try it
YUM! I LOVE lentil soup! I have it for lunch most days! I’ll have to make this variation of it!
Hope you try this recipe! It’s delicious
We are always looking for delicious vegetarian recipes. This looks perfect!
So glad you enjoyed this!
I love soup and this one looks so good! I can’t wait to try it.
So glad you enjoyed this!
I could use a bowl about this right about now. We’re getting snow so I could use the warm. It looks amazing!
And it tastes amazing! Hope you try it
That’s exactly the way a do it ! And at the end a throw same spinach leaves
Sound delicious the part of the spinach leaves!
Sounds like a great dish. Lentils are so delicious, that’s one of my family’s favorite.
Lentils are the best! Hope you try this recipe
Thank you so much! The soup was delicious! I’m making it again tonight! I did add some ground red pepper for some spice and a bit of ground cinnamon.
https://porsell.com
Wonderful! I love it when people make my recipes.
I love adding Kielbasa sausage to my Lentils. Family loves it!!
How much water do I need to add?
The water should be about 2 inches above the lentils.
I was wondering, is it really 1 lbs of lentils? It just seems like a lot but I have not made the recipe yet! Thought it might suppose to be 1 cup?
It’s a lentil package of 16-ounces, or 1 lb.
Thank you so much! The soup was delicious! I’m making it again tonight! I did add some ground red pepper for some spice and a bit of ground cinnamon.
That’s awesome. Ground cinnamon sounds like a great addition. Enjoy!
Hola, Maggie!
I have included a couple of your recipes and linked back to your site in my latest post, a Day of the Dead recipe roundup. I hope you can take a look. 🙂
https://myheartofmexico.wordpress.com/2017/10/26/blissful-mexican-recipes-to-celebrate-day-of-the-dead/
-Fabiola
Gracias amiga. I’ll go and check it out. Thank you so much for all your support and social media love!