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Ramadan 2027

Red Lentil Soup for Iftar

Ingredients for 4 servings

  • 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 5 cups water or low-salt stock
  • Lemon wedges and herbs to serve

Method

  1. Cook the onion and carrot in olive oil until softened.
  2. Add cumin and lentils, then water or stock.
  3. Simmer until the lentils are very soft, about 20–25 minutes.
  4. Blend partly or fully if desired and adjust seasoning.

Make-ahead and reheating

Cool leftovers promptly, refrigerate and reheat until steaming hot. The soup thickens in storage; add water while reheating. If using stock, check salt levels because very salty meals can be uncomfortable for some people after fasting.

At Iftar

This soup can be part of a meal after dates and water, but it is not necessary to consume soup to break the fast. Pair it with vegetables, a protein source and bread or another carbohydrate according to appetite.

Texture control

For a smooth soup, blend fully after cooking. For more texture, blend only half and stir it back into the pot. Red lentils naturally break down, so no flour is needed to thicken the soup.

Batch cooking

Double the batch for a family Iftar, but cool leftovers in shallow containers rather than leaving a large hot pot on the counter. Reheat only the portion you intend to serve.

Adjusting for dietary needs

Use water or low-salt vegetable stock for a vegan version. If reflux is a problem, reduce chilli and large amounts of lemon. People who must restrict potassium, fluid or sodium for medical reasons should follow their clinician’s advice rather than a generic Ramadan recipe.

Control thickness after blending

Lentils continue to thicken as the soup stands. Blend fully or partially according to preference, then adjust with hot water or stock rather than adding excess liquid at the beginning.

Make-ahead and reheating

Cool leftovers promptly, refrigerate in shallow containers and reheat the portion you intend to serve until steaming hot. Add lemon and delicate herbs after reheating for fresher flavour.

Allergen and substitution checks

If using packaged stock, check sodium and allergen information. The soup can be dairy-free without modification unless a garnish introduces dairy. Red lentils cook faster than many whole pulses; substituting another lentil changes the cooking time and texture.