Healing Turmeric Lentil & Farro Soup
This Healing Turmeric Lentil & Farro Soup will warm you through. It’s packed with fresh veggies, red lentils and hearty farro!
Right after I had my oldest daughter Zoe I hit a wall. I was EXHAUSTED. I wasn’t one of those people who loved the newborn phase. I wish I did…but I was just so tired. We ended up hiring some help for a couple of weeks. This angel swooped into my house, got Zoe to sleep, and she took care of me too. She made me nap, helped me with feeding, swaddling, bathing…all the new stuff. And she made me this Healing Turmeric Lentil & Farro Soup. I can’t even begin to tell you how this soup saved me. I was drowning, and I think this soup brought me back. It’s just perfect.
Watch how to make it
Ingredients in Healing Turmeric Lentil & Farro Soup
I’ve changed this recipe up a bit to give it my own twist, but it’s packed with good-for-you, feel good foods. This is perfect to make for your family on a day when you need a pick me up, but it’s also just right if you have a friend or neighbor who needs some love and healing. Look at this ingredient list and you’ll just feel the warmth!
- Onion
- Zucchini
- Carrots
- From the spice cabinet: salt, pepper, turmeric, and cumin
- Veggie broth
- Quick cook farro (if you can find it, otherwise regular farro is fine)
- Red lentils
- Kale or spinach (you know how much I love Lacinato kale!)
- A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
(For tips on the best kind of pots & pans to use, check out this post on the best types of cookware for your kitchen!)
The Home Cook’s Guide to Salt
Learn about the basics of salt, plus the best salt for cooking (hint: it’s Kosher salt!) with this easy-to-understand guide to salt for home cooks.
I had to top this perfect soup with garlic toasted breadcrumbs because they are everything! I promise you won’t regret making a batch. You could also serve it with Comfort Corn Bread with Whipped Honey Butter or a Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing.
Food photography by Ashley Cuoco
Print
Healing Turmeric Lentil and Farro Soup
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Healing Turmeric Lentil & Farro Soup will warm you through. It’s packed with fresh veggies, red lentils and hearty farro!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, grated (about 1 cup)
- 1 small zucchini, grated (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 5 cups vegetable broth, (or chicken broth)
- 1/2 cup quick cook farro (or regular farro is fine)
- 1/2 cup red lentils
- 1 cup chopped kale or spinach
- Fresh lemon juice
For the garlic breadcrumbs
- 6–8 slices of french baguette, (cubed)
- 1 clove garlic
- Olive oil
- Salt
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium sized pot over medium/high heat. Add the onion, zucchini and carrots and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, turmeric, and cumin and cook for 2-3 more minutes. You should start to smell the spices toasting.
- Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling add the farro and lentils and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes or until lentils and farro are cooked through.
- Meanwhile, make the breadcrumbs. Add the bread and garlic into a food processor. Pulse until the bread is in small crumbs. Pour onto a baking sheet and toss with a little bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown.
- In the last couple of minutes of the soup cooking, add the chopped kale and stir until wilted then squeeze some fresh lemon juice and stir. Serve immediately and top with the toasted breadcrumbs.
Notes
This recipe is flexible. You can use all red lentils, all farro, or sub with brown rice, white rice, quinoa or whatever grain you like. All grains cook at different speeds, so adjust cooking time accordingly.
I really wasn’t sure I was going to like this one but I’m working through my pantry back stock and had everything I needed to try it. I am so surprised that I absolutely LOVE this soup! I used quinoa instead of farro and spinach instead of kale and didn’t do the bread crumbs but it was still so delicious without them! I think this will definitely be a winter staple for me now, especially if I feel any kind of illness coming on. So good!
I love hearing this! So glad you love it!!
I added 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs with the broth, then chopped it up once it poached. My soup-adverse family loved it (I love soup, but can only convince them to have it for dinner once in a while), and I was able to share leftovers with a bunch of coworkers who got hit with a cold. Rave reviews all around; definitely will make again!
I love to hear this! So nice of you to share it!
Wonderfully delicious soup! My first time using farro. Chopped veggies into small cubes and used chicken broth. Loved the combination of spices, added small Bay leaf and a dash of cayenne pepper. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Emmy!
Can I double this split pea soup? I’ve got 10 people coming over after snowshoeing and I thought it would be a warm comfy meal. Thanks Edythe
Awesome and so easy! Even the meat eaters devoured it!
Love to hear it! It’s great for everyone!
I replaced the zucchini with cabbage because I didn’t have any. It turned out delicious and very hearty. My family loved it. Perfect winter soup.
Sounds perfect!
This soup is unbelievably comforting and delicious! I subbed the farro with white rice like you suggested and it was perfect! (Gluten free house) thank you for sharing!
Oh good! Glad you loved it!
This soup was a 10. I have seen it for a while, and honestly thought it might be a little bit “weird” as I’ve never had Farro or cooked lentils, but my kiddos were sick and I wanted something super nourishing for them. They are pretty good eaters, but I wasn’t sure if they were going to like it and the LOVED it, even the picky one, the breadcrumbs in the soup reminded him of stuffing and he was sold. Highly recommend!!!!
Oh this is so wonderful!! Thank you so much!
In honor of the weather cooling down this week I made this soup. I’ve made it a few times & thought I had left a review. Let me just say this soup is ridiculously delicious!!!!!! I made the breadcrumbs this time which took it to the next level. If you’re on the fence about making this soup, just do it! It’ll be your new favorite.
Thank you so much Linda!!!
Agree! This soup is delicious! It was easy to make, especially if you have a food processor to chop veggies. I am not a big fan of turmeric however we try to incorporate it into dishes for health benefits. The turmeric in this soup blends so well with the cumin and the lemon is a perfect touch at the end.
Very satisfying. So happy to add this to our soup rotation. One pot meal. Thank you.
You are so welcome, glad you liked it!
Delicious
Thank you!
Yes!! Laney!! This soup IS healing. Seriously delicious. So easy to make. Thank you for another winner.
Just finished the third double batch of this terrific soup. We use half and freeze half. I’ve also given to friends and neighbors who also loved it.
So nice of you to give to friends!
This is my absolute favorite soup! Love love love it! Delicious, nutritious and easy to prepare. It is on constant meal rotation in my house. Thanks, Laney, for a wonderful recipe!
Thank you Naomi! So happy you love it!