Green Lentil Soup, Five Beautiful Ways

A warm, velvety bowl of soup can be wonderful all on its own. And then there are those little finishing touches: a drizzle of good olive oil, fresh herbs, warm crunchy bread, a little cheese beginning to melt into the bowl.

Our organic Lentil & Turmeric Soup is made with green lentils from Gascony, carrots, butternut squash, chives, and a touch of turmeric. The lentils bring depth; the carrots and butternut bring a gentle sweetness.

It is delicious just as it is. But a few thoughtfully chosen toppings can give the same bowl an entirely different personality.

Here are five combinations we especially love.

1. Olive Oil, Fresh Chives & Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

This may be the closest to the way we love to cook: a few beautiful ingredients, carefully chosen, each one there for a reason.

Gently warm the soup, then finish with a drizzle of organic extra-virgin olive oil, freshly chopped chives, a few lightly toasted pumpkin seeds, and freshly ground black pepper.

The chives bring freshness, the seeds add crunch, and the olive oil rounds everything out while letting the flavours of the soup remain at the centre.

2. Greek Yoghurt, Lemon & Coriander

Add a spoonful of Greek yoghurt to the centre of the warm soup, followed by fresh coriander leaves, a little lemon zest, and a few drops of olive oil.

The yoghurt brings a cool creaminess, the lemon brightens the sweetness of the carrots and butternut squash, and the coriander adds a fresh aromatic note.

We especially like this combination when the days are still warm, but a comforting bowl of soup is beginning to sound good again.

3. Golden Olive Oil Croutons

Cut a few pieces of good bread into cubes and toast them in a frying pan with a drizzle of organic extra-virgin olive oil until golden.

Add them to the soup while they are still warm and finish with a little freshly chopped chive.

The contrast between the velvety soup and the warm, crunchy bread changes the whole experience of the bowl.

And yesterday’s bread has found a very good place to be.

4. Feta, Flat-Leaf Parsley & Olive Oil

Crumble a little feta over the warm soup, add finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

The feta brings a savoury, slightly tangy note that plays beautifully against the sweetness of the vegetables and the deeper flavour of the green lentils. The parsley keeps everything fresh and vibrant.

Add a slice of toasted bread alongside it, and the bowl easily takes centre stage at the table.

5. Blue Cheese, Toasted Walnuts & Black Pepper

For something deeper and more intense, add a few small pieces of blue cheese to the warm soup, followed by lightly toasted walnuts and freshly ground black pepper.

The cheese begins to soften into the soup. Its boldness meets the earthy depth of the green lentils, while the walnuts bring crunch and a warm, toasted flavour.

It is a more distinctive combination: rich, comforting, and especially satisfying.

Why Green Lentils from Gascony?

At Karine & Jeff, choosing the ingredients is part of creating the recipe.

The green lentils in this soup come from Gascony, in south-west France, where we have worked with our farming partners for many years.

Our recipes are certified organic, but our relationship with ingredients goes beyond certification. Flavour and quality matter deeply to us. So does origin. And so do the relationships we build with the people who grow the food we cook.

Behind something as simple as a lentil, a carrot, or a herb, there is a place, a way of farming, and people who care for it.

That human story is part of our cooking, too.

Green lentils bring a deep, earthy character to this soup. Carrots and butternut squash soften that depth without taking it away. It is this balance that makes the soup just as happy with the brightness of lemon as it is with the intensity of blue cheese.

Why Can the Colour Vary?

When you look through the glass jar, you may sometimes notice a darker shade near the top of our Lentil & Turmeric Soup.

We have known this natural characteristic of the recipe for twenty years. We cook with green lentils and vegetables, and the natural variations in these ingredients are part of the appearance of the soup.

Once warmed and stirred, the soup comes together in the bowl with its familiar smooth texture and characteristic colour.

Make the Bowl Your Own

Olive oil and chives to stay close to the original recipe. Yoghurt, lemon, and coriander for freshness. Warm croutons for contrast. Feta or blue cheese when you want something a little more intense.

Two or three beautiful ingredients are all it takes to give the same green lentil soup a different personality.

Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes
Serves: 2
Base: 1 × 500 ml jar of Karine & Jeff Lentil & Turmeric Soup
To finish: Your choice of toppings

The cooking is already done.

All that is left is to choose your bowl and add whatever sounds good tonight.