The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (2024)

This Detox Soup recipe is the kind of comforting meal I crave when I need some extra nutrients in my life. It’s so hearty and delicious, I could eat it practically every day!

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (1)

What Does a Detox Soup Do?

Let’s be clear: You can’t eat something and instantly “detox” your body, but you can take daily actions to naturally support your body’s detox organs, like the liver and kidneys.

This detox soup is a hearty and filling way to squeeze more anti-inflammatory foods into your day, without taking any drastic measures. You don’t have to eat it every day to see results, either, but you can, if you love it!

Here’s what you’ll love about this soup:

  • It’s properly combined. Following food combining principles may help to streamline your digestion and reduce bloating, so it can leave you feeling more energized.
  • This soup is low in calories. Since this is a broth-based soup, it’s low in calories, but is also loaded with fiber to help keep you feeling full.
  • The ingredient list is simple. No need to shop for specialty ingredients! All you need is fresh veggies and herbs, affordable dry lentils, and some spices you probably already have on hand.

This soup recipe is also flexible, so if you don’t have all of the ingredients listed, feel free to swap them for what you do have. Zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, and more, will all be delicious in this soup.

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (2)

Detox-Friendly Soup Ingredients

Why do I call it a detox soup? I’ve loaded this recipe with detox-friendly ingredients, to give you as much nutrition as possible, while also making it totally delicious.

Here’s what’s inside:

Paired with flavorful veggies, including onion, celery, and carrots, this soup makes a delicious meal– one that even my 4-year-old daughter loves! (Although, she does pick out the cilantro pieces.)

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (3)

How to Make It

The prep work on this detox soup is pretty minimal. Simply chop a few veggies, and you’re ready to start cooking it. I always start with the onions, carrots, and celery so they can start to soften up, then I add in the garlic, ginger, turmeric, and thyme.

Garlic can burn quickly, so you’ll only need to stir the herbs for about 1 minute, until they smell fragrant. Immediately add in the water after that, so nothing will burn.

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (4)

Add in the lentils and salt, and then bring everything to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to a gentle simmer, and cover the pot with a lid.

You’ll want to cook the soup until the lentils are tender, which takes about 30 minutes. (If you add more salt, it can take longer for the lentils to cook, and if you omit the salt all together, they can cook a little faster.)

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (5)

Once the lentils are tender, season with additional salt, and stir in the cilantro and lemon juice.

The herbs will wilt quickly in the hot soup. Adjust any seasoning to taste, then serve warm.

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (6)

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (7)

Ultimate Detox Soup

4.72 from 192 votes

This Detox Soup is loaded with fiber and anti-inflammatory ingredients that may help reduce bloating and streamline your digestion. I love how comforting and filling it is!

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion , chopped
  • 3 carrots , chopped
  • 3 celery stalks , chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 1/2 inches fresh ginger , minced (about 1 heaping tablespoon)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon freshly chopped rosemary)
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 cup dry green or brown lentils
  • 2 teaspoons fine Himalayan salt , divided
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (or to taste)

Instructions

  • In a large pot (I use a 6-quart one), heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, carrots, and celery, and stir until softened, about 5 minutes.

  • Add in the garlic, ginger, turmeric, and thyme, and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Immediately add in the water after that, so the garlic won't start to burn.

  • Add in the lentils, 1 teaspoon of salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Cover and let the soup cook until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.

  • When the lentils are tender, add in the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, along with the cilantro and lemon juice. The cilantro will wilt quickly in the hot soup. Adjust any seasoning to taste, and serve warm.

  • Leftover detox soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

Video

Notes

This recipe timing should work well with green, brown, or black lentils. If you want to use red lentils, they will cook faster, so you can probably reduce the cooking time to only 20 minutes in that case. (Keep in mind that red lentils will have a mushy texture. See my Red Lentil Soup recipe for reference.)

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 850mg, Potassium: 615mg, Fiber: 11g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 8080IU, Vitamin C: 20mg, Calcium: 81mg, Iron: 3mg

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Soup

Cuisine: vegan

Keyword: detox soup

Need More Detox Recipes?

Try these other fan favorites below:

  • Detox Juice
  • Classic Detox Smoothie
  • Blueberry Detox Smoothie
  • The Best Detox Salad
  • 2-Ingredient Detox Spaghetti

If you try this Detox Soup recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know how you like it! And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too. We can all benefit from your experience!

Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite go-to recipe when you want to feel better fast?

The Best Detox Soup Recipe (with Lentils) (2024)

FAQs

How often should you eat detox soup? ›

Detox soups focus on clean, vegan ingredients and rely primarily on vegetables, not fruits, so they're low on the glycemic scale and full of fiber and nutrients. I sip one serving of soup six times per day while detoxing. If you feel you need to eat more, add another serving or two until you feel satisfied.

Is lentil soup good for you on a diet? ›

Eating more lentils may help people maintain a healthy weight or lose weight. Replacing energy-dense (or high calorie) foods with legumes such as lentils can help people prevent or manage obesity and lose weight. Research suggests that regularly eating lentils may help with the management and prevention of diabetes.

Is lentil soup good for leaky gut? ›

If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune or thyroid disease or believe you have a leaky gut, you should avoid these inflammatory foods: Grains and pseudo-grains include wheat, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, chia seeds, and more. Legumes such as lentils, peanuts, chickpeas, and soybeans.

How long should you soak lentils for soup? ›

How To Soak Right? Soaking lentils for two- eight hours is mostly recommended. In a bowl add the dal and rinse it with water, changing the water 3-4 times and clean it gently by stroking with your fingers. Now add water to a bowl and soak the dal for about 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of lentil.

How to lose 10 pounds in a week? ›

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

What are the rules for the soup cleanse? ›

This seven-day eating plan requires that you make a large batch of soup that includes cabbage as the main ingredient, but may also include tomato, onion, carrots, and either a chicken- or vegetable-based broth. The cabbage soup diet also comes with a list of foods that are allowed and a list of foods to avoid.

Do lentils burn belly fat? ›

Lentils and beans are rich in soluble fiber, which is the single best carbohydrate to help you burn belly fat. "Soluble fiber forms a thick gel when it binds with water in the body," Tracy said. "This gel that forms therefore slows digestion in the body, which keeps you feeling full for longer!

Is it OK to eat lentil soup every day? ›

Studies suggest that regularly eating lentils promotes good health and reduces your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer, including breast cancer. The plant-based compounds (polyphenols) in lentils may have especially powerful effects.

Which color lentil is healthiest? ›

Black Lentils (Beluga lentils)

Best of all, black lentils are the most nutritious variety of lentils, boasting the highest amount of protein, plus high levels of calcium, potassium, and iron.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating lentil soup? ›

Another reason that lentils are known for causing gas and bloating is because they are high in what's called raffinose. Raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO) are known to cause stomach discomfort and bloating because the human body lacks the enzyme required to break them down within the digestive tract.

Is lentil soup a laxative? ›

A 1/2-cup serving of boiled lentils contains an impressive 7.8 g of fiber. Eating lentils may also help increase the production of butyric acid, a type of short-chain fatty acid found in your colon. This could increase the movement of your digestive tract to promote bowel movements.

What are the top 3 foods that cause leaky gut? ›

There are many foods and substances that can cause inflammation and contribute to the development of a leaky gut, including:
  • Refined carbohydrates, like white bread and pasta.
  • Glutinous grains, like barley, rye, and oats.
  • White sugar found in candy, baked goods, or cereal.

Which color lentils are best for soup? ›

Red lentils are best for soups, curries, dals, and anything that craves a creamy, thicker, more comforting touch.

Can you overcook lentils in soup? ›

Yes, you can overcook lentils; they will become mushy. Much depends on the type of lentil you're using. Some cook quicker and hold their shape better than others. To avoid overcooking them, always follow the cooking directions in your recipe and use the type of lentils called for in the ingredient list.

How do you get rid of gas in lentils? ›

Soak and Rinse Legumes: Before cooking legumes, soak them in water for several hours or overnight. This helps soften the legumes and removes some of the complex sugars that can contribute to gas production. Rinse the soaked legumes thoroughly before cooking.

How often do you eat fat burning soup? ›

Just like the name says, the bulk of this diet is fat-free cabbage soup, eaten two to three times a day with other allowed foods assigned each day. Here's what you can add: Day 1: Fruit, except bananas.

How often can you safely detox your body? ›

For example, detoxing the body by cutting out alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and refined foods is a practice that you can benefit from regularly. Many people opt for this type of detox once per month or even once per week (or more!) for greater health and wellbeing.

Is it OK to eat homemade soup everyday? ›

Nothing would happen to you as long as your daily soups provided you with a balanced diet. If you only eat soup that wont be good. Soup is good and not really BAD for you so keep going just make sure to mix it in with other foods that have different nutrients for your body!

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