What to Serve with Lentil Soup

There are so many things to love about lentil soup. It’s warm, hearty, and comforting, for starters. Plus, lentils are packed with fiber and protein, not to mention vitamins and minerals, and they cost pennies! Lentil soup can also be prepared in many ways, with flavors ranging from spicy to savory to sweet. But what to serve with lentil soup?

Once you’ve found a good lentil soup recipe, it’s time to start considering sides.

What to Serve with Lentil Soup

Because lentil soup is so filling, you will likely want to serve it with lighter sides, like bread, salad, or rice. As you consider options, keep in mind the primary flavors of your lentil soup and what might complement them. Here is a list of ideas to get you started.

1. Roasted broccoli

Roasting often brings out flavors better than other cooking methods, and while you may never have thought to roast broccoli, it’s a big, delicious step up from steaming it. Roast a pan of lemon garlic broccoli in the oven while your lentil soup simmers, and enjoy a healthy yet incredibly tasty dinner. The bright notes of lemon and garlic go well with earthy lentils.

2. Biscuits

Soft, flaky biscuits aren’t just for breakfast — they go great with soup for lunch or supper, too! Whip up your favorite classic biscuit recipe or sneak in more veggies with delicious gluten-free sweet potato biscuits. If your family doesn’t gobble them all down immediately, you might also have leftover biscuits for breakfast.

3. Spinach salad

Salad always goes great with soup. During soup season (i.e., fall and winter), cold-hardy vegetables like spinach are more common and make a great seasonal salad. Plus, spinach is incredibly healthy. Toss a crunchy sweet spinach salad with celery and Mandarin orange slices to add a cool, crisp complement to lentil soup.

4. Rice

While lentils provide a significant amount of protein, they are not considered complete; in other words, they do not contain all nine essential amino acids. Rice, however, includes those “missing” amino acids; rice and lentils form a complete protein. Use brown rice for the most significant benefits, and try a simple yet delicious recipe like lemon rice or tarragon rice pilaf.

5. Roasted squash

Balance the earthy flavor of lentil soup with the natural sweetness of roasted squash. Just about any winter squash will do, including the more familiar butternut and acorn squashes. But roasted sweet dumpling squash is especially easy to make, as the tender, edible peel doesn’t need to be removed.

6. Walnut crusted artichokes

Walnut crusted artichokes may sound fancy, but in essence, they’re just battered and fried vegetables. So simple! The tangy, lemony artichokes complement lentil soup, and add the crispy walnut crust … yum. Wow, your guests or treat your family to something different without spending all afternoon in the kitchen.

7. Herbed bread

Bread doesn’t have to be just a bland vehicle for butter and other spreads. We don’t often think to use herbs when baking, but herbed bread accompanies any soup. You can likely find a flavorful loaf at a local bakery or farmers market, but it’s easy enough to make your own dill bread or other herbed bread.

8. Brussels sprouts and carrots

I have a secret for you: Brussels sprouts are delicious. Fry them until they’re crispy, if you don’t believe me. Or steam Brussels sprouts and carrots and toss them with a homemade vinaigrette, then serve the flavorful salad warm or cold alongside steaming bowls of lentil soup. The bright green and vibrant orange are beautiful together!

9. Sweet potato salad

If you prefer sweet and nutty salads, a sweet potato pine nut salad might be your style. This salad is surprisingly tasty and often a hit with kids, a unique combination of sweet potatoes, peas, pine nuts, dried cranberries, and vinaigrette. And like the Brussels sprouts and carrots, it can be served hot or cold.

10. Wilted kale

Sometimes, all you need are some simple cooked greens. Curly kale adds beautiful texture and lovely color to the muted tones of lentil soup. By cooking it just until wilted, you preserve the tenderness of the kale rather than rendering it into a soft, slimy mass. Properly cooked, greens are way tastier than we give them credit for!

11. Rolls

Just thinking the words “soup and bread” makes me feel all warm and cozy. There’s a reason this is the third bread option on this list. Sometimes, simple and classic is the way to go. Soft, fluffy dinner rolls go beautifully with roast chicken, but you might want some crusty French rolls to sop up the broth when eating lentil soup.

12. Green salad

Green salad is another classic soup side, though summer vegetables are a bit of a disappointment in the middle of winter when soup is most common. Try something more seasonal to liven up a salad without watery tomatoes, like a green salad with beets. Plus, beets have an earthy undertone that pairs well with lentil soup.

So what do you eat with lentil soup? Whether you pair it with a good crusty bread, a hearty salad, or a vegetable side dish, like this roasted butternut squash, or mashed cauliflower, brown or red lentil soup makes the perfect weeknight dinner.

I hope this list has filled your head with delicious ideas of what to serve with lentil soup! Maybe it’s even inspired a few creative ideas of your own. Make sure to bookmark or pin this guide so that you can come back and try something new next time you make lentil soup.

More Side Dish Ideas

• falafel side dishes
• chicken noodle soup side dishes
• pumpkin soup side dishes
• side dishes for cabbage rolls
• fettuccine Alfredo side dish ideas