Name: Instant Pot Lentil Soup (Mexican)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 onion (peeled and finely chopped); 2 peppers descended and finely chopped; 3 carrots (peeled and finely cubed); 1 bay leaf (optional); 1 tsp garlic puree; 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin; Chilli to taste; 300 g 1.5 cups green lentils picked thru and rinsed; 750 ml (3 cup) vegetable stock; 2 X 400g (14 oz) finely chopped tomatoes; Salt; 6 tbsp chopped coriander leaves ((cilantro))

Guys, I loooooooooooove – LOOOOOOVE – lentils and beans. So much so that I probably should be embarrassed by the pantry full of them but I am not. Nope. Not embarrassed at all by my pantry overflowing with kilos and kilos of those delicious protein-packed, vegan- and vegetarian-friendly delights.

I am at peace with my lentil and bean ‘problem’ especially because it means I get to bring fab recipes to you like this Instant Pot Lentil Soup. And this isn’t just any Instant Pot Lentil Soup – this version is bursting with rich Mexican flavours. Even meat-eaters and those who typically turn their noses up at lentils will find themselves unable to resist the smell and taste of this Instant Pot lentils recipe.

Instant Pot Lentil Soup Tools

KITCHEN TOOLS, UTENSILS & APPLIANCES NEEDED

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure.

Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.

8 qt Instant Pot
- I use and love the 8 qt, extra Instant Pot Insert & sealing ring.
3 qt Instant Pot or 6 qt Instant Pot depending on family size.
Cutting board.
Knife.
Spatula.
Measuring jugs or cups.
Measuring teaspoons.
Bowls with covers.
- Store leftover food in these.

So let’s get started so you can have this recipe ready to serve in just about 30 mins. Gather your ingredients and let me show you……

How to Make Instant Pot Lentil Soup Step by Step

Step 1. Switch the Instant Pot on to the sauté setting. Add the oil to the Instant Pot insert and sauté the onions, peppers, carrots and bay leaf (if using – not so much a Mexican flavour, but I like what it adds to the dish) for 4-5 mins until the onion is soft.

Step 2. Switch off the heat and stir in the garlic, paprika, cumin and chilli.

Step 3. Mix in the lentils, vegetable stock, tomatoes, and salt.

Chef’s Tip: Be sure to pick through your lentils to check for small rocks or other debris that may be present. Remove these and then rinse the lentils thoroughly before using.

Step 4. Cover your Instant Pot, set the vent to ‘sealing,’ select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 7 mins.

Step 5. When done allow the pot to NPR for 15 mins before releasing the rest of the steam using quick release.

Step 6. Stir in the coriander (cilantro), adjust seasoning and serve.

Do You Have To Soak Lentils Before Cooking Them?

As I am sure you noticed, you do not need to soak lentils before cooking them in the Instant Pot. But you also do not need to soak them even if cooking them on the stove top. Unlike beans, you can add them to your cooking liquid without soaking them.

Tips for Making Instant Pot Lentils

You can also make this dish using Indian spices.
You can add other chopped up vegetables to your taste.
If you wish, you can add meat to this pressure cooker lentil soup. Beef mince is an easy addition – add it to Step 1 and brown it alongside the veggies. (You will add it to the Instant Pot in Step 3.)
You can garnish with parmesan cheese if not vegan.

Meal Prep with Pressure Cooker Lentils

This is a perfect meal prep recipe. Whip up a big batch at the beginning of the week and eat it throughout the week. I personally believe the taste is at its peak several days after making it.

Serve this in Lentil Tacos.
Make a lentil bowl and serve with some Grilled Broccoli or Cauliflower.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Instant Pot Lentil Soup is a hearty meal on its own, but you might want to serve it with:

On top: sliced avocado, sour cream (if not vegan), cheese (or a cheese substitute if vegan)
A crusty baguette
Homemade corn tortillas

And for more lentil recipes, try my Lentil Tacos.

How to Freeze Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Let the soup cool down then transfer into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags.
Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags.
Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer.
Store the soup in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How to Thaw Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Remove the soup from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge.
For a faster thaw, you can add the bagged soup into a microwave and thaw according to the microwave’s instructions.
Transfer the thawed soup into a bowl and reheat in a microwave.
Or transfer the thawed soup into a saucepan and reheat over low to medium heat.

Types of Lentils

Did you know that lentils come in a rainbow of colours with different textures and flavours? Some of the different types of lentils include:

Green lentils (with a lovely peppery flavour)
Brown lentils (an earthy-flavoured lentil variety)
Red lentils (a slightly nutty and sweet lentil)
Black lentils (a strong earthy flavour)

Within each lentil colour, there are many varieties. Puy lentils, for example, are a green lentil variety harvested from the French region of Le Puy.

Lentils Nutrition

Lentils are a fab source of vegetarian or vegan protein. Each 100g cooked serving of lentils contains 9g protein, a moderate amount of carbs (20g) and almost no fat. Combined with their hearty flavour, their nutrition profile makes lentils an ideal meat alternative.

Weight Watchers Points in Instant Pot Lentil Soup

If you replace the 1 tbsp olive oil with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are:

0 Freestyle points per serving (yeap, zero!!)
3 PointsPlus points per serving

More Mexican Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Mexican Rice.

Thank you for reading my Instant Pot lentils recipe post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for reading Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! You can read my full disclosure policy here.

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5 from 6 votes