This Instant Pot Spiced Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup is one of my favorite easy recipes, and it’s one that you all like so much too!
It’s a creamy and thick spiced soup that gets its natural creaminess from red lentils and sweet potatoes. No coconut milk needed to thicken it up because red lentils get mushy when cooked, plus the Instant Pot melts the sweet potatoes into the soup.
For a visual on how to make this recipe, check out the video on Youtube! It’s the first recipe in the video and starts around the 00:55 mark.
Why you’re going to like this recipe
10 main ingredients. Okay, I’m not counting oil, salt and pepper. But yeah, 10 main ingredients, yay!
Weeknight-friendly. It requires just 5 minutes of hands-on cooking, so it’s definitely an easy option for those busy weeknights.
Hearty yet wholesome. This recipe is hearty and comforting, the kind of soup that’s more stew than soup and that’s super satisfying, thanks to its creamy texture, the protein-packed lentils, and the complex carbs from the sweet potatoes. This makes it a great meal for the whole family!
Perfectly spiced. If you’re tired of the same old meals, this is a recipe to try! It features Indian spices but it’s still very accessible and doable, even for novice cooks. The Indian spices pair perfectly with the red lentils (a classic combo), and are balanced nicely by the sweetness of the sweet potatoes.
This recipe is super easy to make so there’s not much to say, but keep in mind that this soup is quite thick and creamy, almost like a stew or dal. If you prefer a soupy texture, just add more vegetable broth or water.
You can add the extra broth/water before pressure cooking (in step 3), or after pressure cooking once you see the finished texture so you can add as much liquid as needed.
More Really Good Soups
- Mediterranean Lentil Soup
- Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Sausage and Kale
- Creamy White Bean Soup with Kale and Gremolata
- Instant Pot Lentil Soup
If you give this Instant Pot Spiced Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup a try, be sure to tag me on Instagram with your recreations and please comment with your feedback below!
Introducing
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Instant Pot Spiced Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or oil of choice)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated or minced ginger
- 1 serrano pepper, diced (optional, adds some heat)
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon curry powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into a large dice
- 1 cup red lentils, rinsed until the water runs clear
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth*
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sea salt + more to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup (optional)
- For serving (optional): coconut yogurt, fresh cilantro, and flatbread or rice
Instructions
- Select the Sauté setting on your Instant Pot and heat up the coconut oil. Once it’s shimmering, add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
- Add the garlic, ginger, serrano pepper (if using), garam masala, curry powder (if using), cumin, and turmeric and stir until aromatic, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in the vegetable broth to deglaze the pot, using a wooden spoon or scraper to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Add the lentils, sweet potatoes, sea salt, and pepper. Stir to combine all of the ingredients. Select the Cancel setting.
- Secure the lid of the Instant Pot and seal. Select the Pressure Cook (or Manual, depending on your model) setting and cook at high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Once the 10 minutes is up, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes before switching the pressure release valve from Sealing to Venting. Open the Instant Pot and give the soup a stir. Taste for seasonings. You may want to add more salt, or to balance the acidity, you may want to add a teaspoon or two of maple syrup or sugar.
- Once the soup has slightly cooled, top with coconut yogurt and fresh cilantro. If desired, serve with flatbread or rice.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this? Leave a rating below!
This stew is delish!! I have tried it with butternut squash even pumpkin if i don’t have sweet potatoes on hand. It is always delish. Love it!
Thanks for sharing, Cheyla!
the cooking time was too long, it ended up very, very mushy. The taste was good, but not so good like other dishes from you. I’ll try it again with the half of the cooking time, or the rest time and write again. and i take an other garam masala, maybe it was’t a tasty one. Also the colour was like mod, but this doesn’t matter😂
Sorry to hear this recipe didn’t work out for you very well, Michaela. Thank you for the honest review nonetheless!
This honestly might be one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted! Added bonus, it’s super easy, too! Based on a few reviews, I added 2-3 big handfuls of spinach at the end and topped with yogurt and cilantro…delicious!
I love your recipes so much…thank you!
Thanks for sharing, Courtney! Glad you love the recipes!
We made this last night exactly as the recipe says including the Serrano and curry powder. It turned out extremely well! Loved the flavors and stewie texture. This will be on our favorites list. Thanks so much!
Hi Sunie, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
You must have the 6 quart InstaPot! I have the 3 quart so this recipe didn’t fit, it made a big mess. I also made the Chana Masla but was smart enough to just use a big pot. I love all your recipes. Thanks for sharing them. I also enjoy your sense of humor. Love n’ stuff to you and yours.
Hi Kallau, yes all of these recipes are formulated to fit in a 6qt instant pot. Hopefully you can try halving this recipe to fit your instant pot!
Amazing recipe, so fast and super delious! I don’t have a instant pot so i just used a normal pot haha. I’ve been a fan of your YouTube for a while, but that’s the first time I actually make something. And I’ll definitely make more!
Glad you finally got to try one of the recipes, Tina! Thanks for the review!
OMG this is my new favorite recipe. SO yummy and easy. I used chicken stock and real yogurt, though. I also simmered everything in a Dutch oven for about 25 min, as I don’t own an instant pot. At the end, I used a potato masher to break up the sweet potato. I had a particularly hot serrano pepper, but a little extra yogurt cut the heat perfectly. Bravo!!
This recipe is amazing, although I changed it a bit (it’s almost like a disease, haha). I cooked it in a normal pot because I don’t have an instant pot.
Because I love coconut milk, I used only 3 cups of vegetable broth and substituted the remaining cup with a can of coconut milk.
I also added 1 tbsp of cashew butter – the tip you made in another recipe and I really loved it.
In the end, I blended just a bit of soup (tried to catch potatoes) to make it creamier.
For some reason this ended up tasting quite bitter. Where did I go wrong?
So good! Even my lentil hating husband loved it!
Wow Sweet and Delicious!!!! I made this recipe without curry, but love the garam masala *** I Added lightly steamed cauliflower in just before serving….. I would try adding steamed potatoes, mushrooms and spinach next time…. Thanks for taking all the guess work out of this great recipe Nisha!!
Delicious, quick and easy! And pantry friendly. I added some kale and stirred it in at the end to add some greens! Thanks for a wonderful recipe.
I only have a 3-quart instant pot. Should I reduce the amount I make or will this recipe fit in that size pot?
Sabina I made this today in a 3 quart instapot did fine used 1 cup of lentils one very very large sweet potato and 4 1/2 cups of ginger broth it did fine…..
Nisha, I love your recipes. I am nearly fifty years old and I am just now starting to feel like I can call myself a good cook. Much of that is thanks to your recipes! This is one of my favorites. The flavors are fantastic and the sweet potato and lentils are a wonderful combination. As I ate this I was thinking, I can’t believe I made this!! Thank you for a home run of a recipe
Hi, I don’t have an instant pot. Would I decrease the amount of water or increase the cooking time on stovetop?
I haven’t tried it myself, but I think you can decrease to 3 cups liquid. And after sauteing the onions, add the sweet potatoes and toss to coat for 6-7 minutes (add more oil or water as needed to prevent sticking). Then add the lentils and liquid, and probably 20-25 minutes cook time.
Sooo good!
Ok this recipe sold me on instapot soups! It so warming and filling. I added eggplant, chickpeas, and spinach at the end too. I chose this because I already love the red lentil curry and make it often. And I need to get my iron in lol
First time trying one of your recipes and this was so delicious! I can’t wait to try more! Thank you!
Forgot to leave the five star rating
Absolutely love all your recipes!!! And I’m so happy with this new layout so I can access the recipes easier. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes!
Nisha,
Can you use sweet potatoes already diced from the grocery store?
Sure! I’d estimate about ~10 to 12 ounces of diced sweet potatoes.
This is delicious, would you know the approximate amount of calorie/serving?