Tomato & Red Lentil Soup

There’s nothing quite like a warming bowl of homemade soup when you need something simple, soothing, and full of honest flavour. This Tomato & Red Lentil Soup is one of those dishes that proves you don’t need complicated techniques or endless ingredients to make something truly satisfying.

It’s a lovely little recipe for two — ideal if you’re cooking in a small country kitchen, a campervan tucked away in the hills, or simply want a comforting meal without creating a mountain of washing-up. The cherry tomatoes bring brightness and natural sweetness, the red lentils add body and nourishment, and the celery salt quietly deepens the flavour.

A quick blend at the end turns it into a beautifully smooth, velvety soup that feels far more indulgent than the ingredient list suggests. Serve it with a drizzle of good olive oil and a thick slice of crusty bread, and you’re sorted.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

300g cherry tomatoes

1 medium onion, finely diced

4 large garlic cloves, lightly crushed

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for serving

1 teaspoon celery salt, plus more to taste

1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

1 litre vegetable stock

180g dried red lentils

Method

1. Pan-roast the tomatoes

Warm a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, celery salt, and white pepper. Stir well so everything is coated.
Spread the tomatoes evenly, cover with a lid, and cook for 15 minutes. They should soften, burst, and release their juices into a bubbling base.

2. Add the lentils

Pour in the vegetable stock, add the lentils, and gently scrape up any browned bits from the bottom — that’s where the flavour hides.
Cover and simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring halfway. The lentils should be very soft and starting to fall apart.

3. Blend & serve

Transfer the soup to a blender (vent the lid so the steam escapes) and blitz until completely smooth — around 4 minutes in a strong blender.
Taste, adjust with extra celery salt or pepper, and serve with a generous drizzle of olive oil.

Comforting, wholesome, and wonderfully simple — just how I like it.

This recipe is part of my Soup Recipes collection. It joins 25 other soups — from chilled gazpacho to hearty broths and Asian-inspired bowls — in my complete Soup Recipes hub.

Wonky photos, proper soup, genuine adventures — The Flexible Chef