Red Lentil and Coconut Soup with Thai Red Curry Paste
A velvety soup of red lentils, coconut and red curry paste that costs pennies and keeps for days.
Made with Thai red curry paste. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 mins
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.70 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat and soften the onion for 6 minutes.
6 min - 2
Add your ready made Thai red curry paste (see the base recipe) and cook for 2 minutes, stirring.
2 min - 3
Tip in the lentils, carrot, coconut milk and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes until the lentils are soft.
20 min - 4
Blend about half the soup with a stick blender for a thick texture with some body.
- 5
Stir in the spinach until wilted, then the tamari and lime juice. Taste and adjust.
- 6
Ladle into bowls and top with coriander.
Tips
- Rinse the lentils well in a sieve until the water runs clear.
- Add more water if the soup thickens as it sits.
- The shrimp paste in the red curry paste makes it non vegan unless you make the paste without.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 hour and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Is this soup vegan?
Only if the Thai red curry paste is made without shrimp paste. All the other ingredients are plant based.
Can I use green or brown lentils?
Red lentils collapse and thicken the soup. Brown or green would stay whole and need 35 minutes.
Can I make it thicker?
Yes, blend all of it, or use less water.
More made with thai red curry paste
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.