Chicken and Red Lentil Soup With Lemony Yogurt 

Updated Jan. 16, 2025

Chicken and Red Lentil Soup With Lemony Yogurt 
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff.
Total Time
1 hour
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(2,548)
Comments
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If you’re feeling a bit worn down, one bowl of this hearty lentil soup will bring you back to life — or at least fool you into thinking so. The broth is simply (and deeply) flavored with charred onions and six garlic cloves, plus a generous pinch of turmeric that stains the soup gold. As they cook down, the lentils melt into the broth, making it thick and rich. A healthy dose of black pepper brings gentle heat to clear your head, and the final sprinkle of fresh dill and parsley adds a bright, herbal finish. This soup is soothing and satisfying on its own, but feel free to add a few extras: hearty greens like kale or spinach to wilt, a soft-boiled egg, or even chile oil for some heat. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings  
  • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
  • 2large onions, thinly sliced 
  • 6garlic cloves, thinly sliced 
  • 1pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs 
  • cups red lentils, rinsed 
  • 1teaspoon ground turmeric 
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper 
  • 1cup finely chopped mix of parsley, dill and mint 
  • 1cup plain full-fat regular or Greek yogurt 
  • 2tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

603 calories; 20 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 61 grams carbohydrates; 12 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 48 grams protein; 922 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until deeply charred around the edges and tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Add the chicken, lentils and turmeric, and season generously with salt and lots of pepper. Toss everything a few times so that the turmeric can coat the other ingredients.

  3. Step 3

    Pour in 8 cups water, turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Then, adjust heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils have split and collapsed into the broth in a golden mush and the chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Using tongs, remove the chicken thighs, let them cool slightly, then shred and return to the pot. Sprinkle in the herbs, taste and season with salt and pepper as necessary.

  5. Step 5

    In a small bowl, combine the yogurt and lemon juice and season with salt. (If using Greek yogurt, thin with water until it reaches a runny consistency.)

  6. Step 6

    Ladle the soup into bowls, then spoon the lemony yogurt over before serving.

Ratings

5 out of 5
2,548 user ratings
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Comments

This dish is very similar to a typical daal. Overall the broth was a little bland, so I chose to spice it up with some cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes. It was a hearty soup perfect for a cold night.

This was really great- the herbs really brighten things up, and the lemony yogurt is a lovely addition. My only suggestion would be to let those chicken thighs simmer for closer to 45 minutes before shredding. They will shred after 25 minutes, but you’ll have to work at it a bit and the meat will be tougher. In contrast, after 45 minutes, they will be barely able to hold together, making the shredding a trivial affair, and therefore not costing you so much additional time in the end.

For the sauce, also try preserved lemon chopped and stirred into the yogurt. I use this all the time on vegetables roasted in harissa. It would be delicious on this.

So yummy! Added fresh ginger smoked paprika and chopped carrots. Put some za’atar in the lemony yogurt… Yummmmm

A superb dish as it is written, this is a rustic meal that gives you everythingyou need for a simple meal at home. Congratulations to all the people in comments who turned this into a michelin star soup, that doesn't resemeble this dish at all, but something entirely different.

A winner--delicious!

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