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!)

Some chick peas and crumbled feta.

Tabasco!

I quite often add a spoonful of cream cheese with garlic and herbs to add richness and flavour to an otherwise boring soup.

Spices (cumin, curry powder) to make a dal. Yoghurt. Fry wraps with olive oil and cumin seeds to make chapattis

Roasted carrots are good if you're on a budget.

Stir in some spinach.

I have to say you’ve elevated my dinner tonight. I added lemon juice and curry powder. Air fryed some very tired cauliflower with a bit of bacon and served with a blob of natural yoghurt. It’s really nice.

I’ve attached a picture of my standard dinner v. My creation.

Dry fry some pumpkin seeds to scatter on top.

Fry some finely chopped onion / shallots and add whatever spices you like. I'd go for garam masses, five spice or other spice mix.

Grate in some creamed coconut.

Stir in a teaspoon of marmite or miso

... or chipotle paste or sciracha sauce.

Lidl pickled jalapeño slices are great in this sort of thing and a lot of flavour for your money

Coconut milk, curry powder and some lime and corriander leaves sprinkled over.

For something a bit different, get a pack of smoked mackerel fillets, and flake a couple of them into your lentil soup while it's heating through. This would work with a curry flavour lentil soup too, a different take on kedgeree flavours.

You could have the rest of the mackerel mixed with yoghurt/mayonnaise/cream cheese on toast as a simple fish pate, or serve with a Waldorf salad as a simple meal.

I had a really nice pumpkin and brown lentil curry. Could try using it for that?

Tesco have finely diced chorizo in the freezer section, it’s about £2.50. It’s really nice and strong flavoured so a tiny bit goes a long way! I often use it in soups or omelettes.

Gin? 😁

Heathen. Everyone knows it's vodka that pairs with lentil soup. Honestly, no class on here

Garlic, ginger, chilli flakes chick peas. (Toasted cumin seeds and coriander seeds) Cook for 10minutes. Squeeze in some lime juice. Spoon some natural yoghurt on the top. Garnish with chopped coriander

@MrsTerryPratchett
I'm so embarrassed at my uncouthness
I shall now flounce, NC and return
😁

Cheap "cooking bacon " from a supermarket. Lees than a pound for about 500g (or used to be anyway)

Looks amazing! I was going to say just drink it however and have a shot of vodka 😅

I would add spinach and some kind of sausage (chorizo, frankfurter, etc.).

Lentils are super healthy, so if you can liven them up a bit then I think free lentils are winner OP

I'd have thought Limoncello would be the obvious boozy choice.

Stir in some cream cheese.

Goat cheese
strain to reduce the liquid. Mix with greens

Your dinner looks lovely!

I was going to say snip a pepperami up into it.