Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup)
Velvety pureed red lentil soup with crisp pita.
Ingredients
- 250 g Masoor dal (red lentils)
- 1 Onion
- 1 Carrot
- 1 tbsp Ground cumin
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- 1 Lemon
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 Pita (optional)
Method
- Chop the onion and carrot.
- Soften the onion and carrot in the olive oil in a pot over medium heat, then stir in the cumin and turmeric until fragrant and add the lentils and enough water to cover well.
- Season with salt and simmer until the lentils and vegetables are completely soft, about 18 minutes.
- Blend the soup smooth and brighten with the lemon.
- Serve with crisp pita.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup)
Shorbat adas is the red lentil soup found across the Middle East, from Levantine home kitchens to Ramadan tables where it often breaks the fast. Red lentils are the key: they cook quickly and collapse completely, so when the soup is blended it turns velvety and thick without any cream or thickener. Cumin and turmeric are toasted in the aromatics at the start, which is what gives the soup its earthy backbone and warm golden color rather than a flat, boiled-lentil taste.
The result is smooth, comforting, and gently spiced, with a squeeze of lemon stirred in at the end to cut the richness and wake everything up — that final brightness is essential and easy to underestimate. It is almost always served with bread, and this version calls for crisp pita to scoop and dip, the crackle playing against the soft soup. Fast, wholly plant-based, and made from pantry staples, shorbat adas is the kind of soup that comes together in about half an hour yet tastes like it simmered all afternoon.
Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup): frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup)?
A serving has about 350 calories — 16.1g protein, 46g carbs, 12.6g fat, 8.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup) gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Pita. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup) take to make?
About 30 minutes start to finish, but only around 15 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup)?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out pita — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Shorbat Adas (Red Lentil and Cumin Soup) make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.