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Red Lentil and Squash Soup

By Alli Berkey

Published on December 20, 2020

Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Red Lentil and Squash Soup

Ingredients

2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus extra for drizzling2 teaspoons chili powder, divided, plus extra for serving1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided½ teaspoon pepper, divided1 large shallot, sliced thin3 garlic cloves, sliced thin5 cups chicken broth 1 cup dried red lentils, picked over and rinsed¼ cup plain Greek yogurt

Before You Begin

For a vegetarian version of this soup, you can substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. Serve topped with crumbled pita chips.

Instructions

  1.  Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Toss squash, 1 tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper together on rimmed baking sheet. Roast until squash is well browned and tender, about 25 minutes.
  2.  Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add shallot and garlic and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1½ teaspoons chili powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth, lentils, ½ teaspoon salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover; and simmer until lentils are completely broken down, about 15 minutes.
  3.  Stir squash into lentil mixture; blend with immersion blender until smooth (add up to 1 tablespoon water as needed to thin soup). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. Combine yogurt, 1 tablespoon water, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in small bowl. Serve soup dolloped with yogurt sauce, sprinkled with extra chili powder, and drizzled with extra oil.
Red Lentil and Squash Soup
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Ashley Moore.

Red Lentil and Squash Soup

Save

Time

45 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus extra for drizzling
2 teaspoons chili powder, divided, plus extra for serving
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided
½ teaspoon pepper, divided
1 large shallot, sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, sliced thin
5 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried red lentils, picked over and rinsed
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt

Ingredients

2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus extra for drizzling
2 teaspoons chili powder, divided, plus extra for serving
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided
½ teaspoon pepper, divided
1 large shallot, sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, sliced thin
5 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried red lentils, picked over and rinsed
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt

Ingredients

2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (6 cups)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus extra for drizzling
2 teaspoons chili powder, divided, plus extra for serving
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt, divided
½ teaspoon pepper, divided
1 large shallot, sliced thin
3 garlic cloves, sliced thin
5 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried red lentils, picked over and rinsed
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt

Why This Recipe Works

Red lentils cooked quickly and disintegrated completely, giving the soup velvety body after only a brief simmer. 

Before You Begin

For a vegetarian version of this soup, you can substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. Serve topped with crumbled pita chips.

Instructions

  1.  Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Toss squash, 1 tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper together on rimmed baking sheet. Roast until squash is well browned and tender, about 25 minutes.
  2.  Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add shallot and garlic and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1½ teaspoons chili powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth, lentils, ½ teaspoon salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover; and simmer until lentils are completely broken down, about 15 minutes.
  3.  Stir squash into lentil mixture; blend with immersion blender until smooth (add up to 1 tablespoon water as needed to thin soup). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. Combine yogurt, 1 tablespoon water, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in small bowl. Serve soup dolloped with yogurt sauce, sprinkled with extra chili powder, and drizzled with extra oil.

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