This easy curried vegan lentil soup with cauliflower is hearty, flavorful, and contains rich and aromatic spices! It's the perfect family-friendly healthy meal!
Course Appetizer, Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine American, Indian
Keyword curried cauliflower soup, instant pot soup, vegan soup recipe
Add the cooking oil to the Instant Pot and heat on saute mode. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes. (For stove-top directions, see notes below)
Add the chopped carrots, cauliflower, and potatoes and combine.
Add 1 teasp salt, the vegetable broth, uncooked green lentils, paprika, and curry powder. Mix to combine.
Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on manual, HI for 6 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
Using a hand blender, pulse the soup mixture until most of the large veggie pieces are chopped down. The end consistency should be thick and chunky, not completely pureed.
Add the coconut milk, the remainder of the salt (to taste), lemon juice, and maple syrup.
Cook/saute the soup for another few minutes. Taste and adjust salt and flavor (maple syrup, lemon juice). Add freshly ground black pepper and serve hot with a side of crackers, garlic bread, or toast!
Notes
Stove-top Method - For best results stove-top, pre-soak the green lentils in water for 15-20 minutes and drain prior to cooking (you can still make this recipe if you forget). Follow steps 1 to 3 in a non-stick pot over medium heat. Add an extra 1 - 1.5 cup water. Partially cover and cook for 12 to 15 mins or until the veggies are tender and lentils are cooked. Continue on with step 5 till the end. Add more water/vegetable broth or reduce the the final soup by simmering on low heat until you get the desired consistency. Veggies - Since the final soup will be pulsed, no need to chop the veggies into small pieces. Although the soup is forgiving on the exact amount of veggies, for additional guidance, see the measured quantities below :
1.5 cup onions ~ 1 medium onion
1 cup carrots ~ 3 medium carrots
3 cups cauliflower florets ~ 1/2 large cauliflower
2 cups potatoes ~ 1 Yukon potato (feel free to use another type of potato such as red or russet)
Make-Ahead Tip - Prep all the veggies ahead of time.For Picky Eaters - I prefer to pulse this soup using a hand blender for a thick and chunky soup, but if you have picky eaters or toddlers that don't like pieces of veggies, feel free to completely puree the soup.