Spiced Sweet Potato Coconut Soup (Printable Version)
Creamy coconut sweet potato lentil soup with warming spices, ready in under an hour for a comforting plant-based meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 carrots, sliced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
→ Legumes
06 - 1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed
→ Liquids
07 - 1 can (13.5 fl oz) full-fat or light coconut milk
08 - 4 cups vegetable broth
→ Spices & Seasonings
09 - 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
10 - 1 tsp ground coriander
11 - ½ tsp ground turmeric
12 - ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
13 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, optional
14 - 1 ½ tsp sea salt, or to taste
15 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
16 - 2 tbsp olive oil
→ Garnishes
17 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
18 - Toasted pumpkin seeds
19 - Lime wedges
# How To Make:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Sauté for 1 minute to release essential oils and deepen flavors.
04 - Add diced sweet potatoes and rinsed lentils to the pot, stirring to coat evenly with spiced mixture.
05 - Pour in coconut milk and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25–30 minutes until sweet potatoes and lentils are tender.
06 - For a creamier consistency, use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup while leaving some chunks for texture.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle hot into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro, toasted pumpkin seeds, and lime wedges.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The coconut milk creates this velvety texture that makes you forget this is healthy food.
- Everything cooks in one pot which means minimal cleanup on busy nights.
02 -
- Red lentils cook faster than other varieties so check them at twenty minutes to avoid complete mush.
- The soup thickens considerably as it sits so add extra broth when reheating leftovers.
03 -
- Dice sweet potatoes slightly smaller than you think so they finish cooking at the same time as the lentils.
- Taste your coconut milk before adding since some brands are sweeter than others.