What to add to free lentil soup to make it interesting.

[Badbudgeter]

What can I add to lentil soup to make it interesting/ more protein? They buy it in at work, corporate hospitality, from a deli. They send it in flasks of ten portions. There’s often loads left over over so I have a soup mug worth for lunch and then bring another portion or two home for dinner/ the weekend. I am so bored of lentil soup though so I need to spice it up somehow.

It does save money but it’s getting a bit depressing living on lentil soup, leftover single serve lurpak butter portions and toast ( I do buy bread!)

Chuck in some curry powder/spinach to make a kind of dal?

I always think lentil soup needs a squeeze of lemon juice. Add a dollop of natural yogurt and some fresh coriander and a halved boiled egg on top.

Bacon?

Do a dry fry... very thinly sliced onion, fry until golden, add a crushed clove of garlic and some mustard seeds. When mustard seeds start popping, add some lemon or lime juice and a bit of jaggery or brown sugar

Forgot the chilli flakes :)

Jalapenos / chilies / chili powder with ground ginger, cumin and coriander, to make it a bit more Middle Eastern. You can add some cooked rice, which is pretty cheap. Chopped or whole tinned tomatoes are great to add too, with some dried mixed herbs, salt and black pepper..

Bacon definitely!

Grate some cheese on top.

Salt! Honestly.

But ham, bacon, any kind of pork work better. If you can get bacon trimmings (my local butcher does them) or salami ends (local deli) then that works.

Curry powder
Lemon
Sausages

Bacon if you eat it.
Spinach.
Chunks of cooked veg.

Also garam masala makes everything better.

I added chorizo today! Not cheap but if just you one chorizo would last you ages.

Love lentil soup! A squeeze of fresh lemon juice is great - I read somewhere that the vitamin c helps you absorb the iron in the lentils. Grated carrot, or baby spinach leaves are a nice addition. You could also try dry-frying whole cumin seeds for a few mins, then scatter on top. If you fancy a change to toast or rice, you could try making cauliflower rice to go with. Enjoy!

I'd have to fry up some lardons / cubed pancetta and check them in, together with handful of chopped fresh parsley, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil

Chicken, pototes and curry powder. Have it as a curry.

The potatoes will thicken it up

Use it as a base for a stew, add veggies, potatoes, onions, garlic, herbs, meat if you want and cook it for ages.

I like grated cheese in soup, that ups the protein., as does a dollop of yogurt

Broccoli (liquidised/blended). Agree with bacon and curry - but curry powder needs to be cooked a bit to activate it., usually done at the beginning with onions

I live abroad and lentil soup is a staple part of the national diet, almost always with a squeeze of lemon.

I enjoy bacon lardons in my lentil soup. You've inspired me to make lentil & bacon soup tomorrow!

So many good ideas. I have a lemon, bacon no Garam masala or chilli flakes sadly. If it was a choice between smoked paprika or Tabasco to give a bit of a kick? I do have butter beans as well does that sound like too much?

Sliced up Smokey sausage! Something processed and cooked that just needs warming up in the soup like matteson sausage or hot dogs at a push. Smoky flavour things and lentils are a winner. Plus a dash of Worcestershire sauce.

Butter beans, although nice, sound like too much of the same.

Add chickpeas. Have it with rice.

Tobasco

I have hotdogs and Worcestershire sauce might save that for tomorrow as bacon is in the air fryer