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Healthy French Lentil Soup

This simple, healthy French lentil soup is packed with chopped vegetables, chicken stock, fresh herbs, and a touch of Dijon mustard. It’s a simple soup that reheats and freezes perfectly.

French lentil soup in a white bowl.

Is this cold winter weather leaving you craving soup almost every single day?

I know, me too. Winter is the perfect soup weather!

Today, I am giving you a healthier soup packed with vegetables and French lentils.

It’s hearty, earthy, and absolutely perfect when served with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

This soup uses a few non-vegan ingredients, but you can easily swap them out if you want to make this lentil soup vegan-friendly.

I also love freezing this soup as it freezes beautifully and becomes an easier, quick weeknight meal option.

Craving more lentil recipes? Try my Vegan Lentil Chili, Lentil Couscous Salad with Goat Cheese, Creamy Red Lentil Carrot Soup, or Curried Lentil Vegetable Soup.

Healthy French Lentil Soup ingredients on a table.

Ingredients in French lentil soup:

  • Olive oil and butter – This combo is peak flavor for me, but feel free to use olive oil to keep it vegetarian and vegan friendly.
  • Carrots, celery, and leeks – Traditionally, you think of onions being used in French soup, but I swapped in leeks because I love their subtle onion flavor. You can use yellow onions in place if you don’t have or can’t find leeks.
  • Garlic and thyme – Classic French soup additions and great for all-around flavor.
  • Chicken stock – I like the flavor chicken stock brings to this soup, but you can easily swap this out for vegetable stock if you want to keep this soup vegetarian and vegan-friendly.
  • French lentils – I used traditional French lentils, which can also be called Le Puy lentils. However, any green lentil will work in this soup. Use whatever you can find.
  • Bay leaf – I love bay leaf because it adds depth of flavor to a soup. Always remember to take it out of the soup after it’s done cooking. They are not to be eaten.
  • Dijon mustard – Add a bit of spice and bite to the soup. It’s not strong mustard, so don’t worry about overpowering the soup.
Vegetables sautéed in a soup pot.
Healthy French Lentil Soup in a soup pot.

How to make French lentil soup

This hearty, healthy lentil soup is so easy to make!

  1. In a soup pot, saute your vegetables in butter until soft and fragrant.
  2. Add garlic and herbs.
  3. Pour in chicken stock and deglaze the pot.
  4. Add in lentils, bay leaf, and Dijon mustard.
  5. Simmer until the lentils are soft and the soup is hearty.
  6. Taste, season with kosher salt and black pepper, and serve with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
Healthy French Lentil Soup in a bowl with a spoon on the side.

Making this soup vegan or vegetarian

I love how hearty and rich this soup is, but if you want to make this fully vegetarian and vegan-friendly, swap out the butter for olive oil and the chicken stock for vegetable stock.

What are French lentils?

French lentils are a green lentil variety that is darker in color and a bit smaller in size than traditional green lentils.

They hold their shape very well (read: they don’t get mushy too fast), which works well for this hearty soup. You may also see French lentils called “lentilles du Puy” which means the lentils were grown in the Puy region of France.

You can buy French lentils on Amazon or in specialty food stores.

Healthy French Lentil Soup in a bowl with a hand going in for a spoonful.

Can I freeze lentil soup?

Yes! In fact, it’s one of my favorite soups to freeze!

Add it to a freezer-safe container, leave a little headroom, freeze, and keep frozen for up to 3 months.

Remove from the freezer and let defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheat your soup on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Healthy French Lentil Soup served in a white bowl.

Storage and leftovers

If you have any leftover French lentil soup, store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, place in a small saucepot over the stove and reheat over medium heat. Or reheat in the microwave for a few minutes until hot.

a hand holding a bowl of Healthy French Lentil Soup.

More soup recipes

French Lentil Soup

This simple healthy French lentil soup is the perfect cold winter day soup. It's packed full of chopped vegetables, chicken stock, fresh herbs, and just a touch of Dijon mustard. It's a simple soup that reheats and freezes perfectly.
4.84 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the olive oil and butter and cook until the butter has melted. 
  • Next, add the carrots, celery, and leeks.
  • Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir occasionally. 
  • Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook for an additional minute. 
  • Add the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits.
  • Add the lentils, bay leaf, and Dijon mustard. 
  • Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low.
  • Simmer for 30-35 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. 
  • Remove the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
  • Enjoy warm. Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 286mg | Potassium: 291mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4157IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg
Course Soup
Cuisine French
Keyword french lentil soup, healthy lentil soup, lentil soup
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Healthy French Lentil Soup pin for pinterest.
Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

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