Why is my lentil soup so thick?

If things get a bit too thick: Often times lentil (or other bean soups) will substantially thicken up, especially overnight; if this happens and the soup becomes a bit too thick, simply thin it out with a little water or stock .

Is it better to cook soup slowly?

Cooking over a longer period of time also increased flavour and reduces the need for added seasoning or sauces . Instead the richness comes from spices and herbs that leach their goodness and aroma into the food.

Can you overcook lentils in soup?

Yes, you can overcook lentils ; they will become mushy. Much depends on the type of lentil you're using. Some cook quicker and hold their shape better than others. To avoid overcooking them, always follow the cooking directions in your recipe and use the type of lentils called for in the ingredient list.

Should lentils be soaked for soup?

Lentils do not require it but can be soaked in order to reduce cooking time by about half . Before cooking, rinse lentils in cold water, pick over to remove debris or shrivelled lentils, then drain.

What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker?

Vegetables such as peas, asparagus and peppers can become a flavorless, mushy mess in a slow cooker.

Can you overcook soup in a slow cooker?

"When a slow cooker is too full, it may not heat the food evenly," explains Leal. As a result, some parts of the dish may overcook, while others remain undercooked . "This can also increase the risk of foodborne illness, because the food might not reach a safe temperature throughout," she says.

How long can you leave soup in a slow cooker?

While it's perfectly ok to use your crock pot in this way, try to avoid leaving food on the warming setting for more than four hours . According to the USDA, food kept at between 40 and 140 degrees is more at risk of forming bacteria. In this temperature range, bacteria can double in number within just 20 minutes.

How do you make lentil soup less watery?

Add Flour Or Cornstarch You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What to do if soup is too thick?

Add more liquid : The simplest solution is to add more liquid, such as water, broth, or milk. Start by adding a small amount and gradually add more until you reach the desired consistency. Use a blender: If you have a blender, you can puree the soup in batches, adding more liquid as needed.

How do you make lentils less watery?

If you cooked them correctly they should be plenty thick. If the lentils or dal are still runny keep cooking until they are not. If there's more liquid than you like in your lentils, after they're cooked, you can pour off the excess liquid into a different pot, and boil the liquid down until it's thicker .

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (2024)

Published: Oct 18, 2012 · by Nicole · Updated: Jan 1, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

You're going to love this Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup. It's filling, easy to make, and totally healthy!

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (1)

I own a ton of cookbooks, but if I had to choose the one I use the most often in my kitchen, it's Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson. This is my book that has notes scrawled all over the pages and food spatters on the most frequently used recipes. If you're a vegetarian and you own a slow cooker, you should really buy this book!

This recipe is adapted from a kale and lentil soup that's in Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker. It's not super fancy, it's not a show-stopper, but it's a delicious, hearty soup for a chilly fall evening. I replaced the kale with chard—and used a lot more than the original recipe calls for. We love Swiss chard, and if I was buying a whole bunch anyway, why not use it? I even threw in the stems, so nothing goes to waste! I also added some Yukon potatoes to make this soup even more filling, but sweet potatoes or butternut squash would probably be just as tasty.

How to Make Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (4)

Heat oil in a skillet.
Add veggies and cook until softened.
Add veggies and ingredients to slow cooker.
Cook on low for 8 hours.
Season with salt, pepper, and boiled chard leaves.

Full directions for how to make Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup are in the printable recipe card below.

Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup FAQs

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (5)

Why do you love this cookbook?

The thing I love about Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker is that the recipes are mostly unfussy. You might have to sauté some ingredients before putting them in the crockpot. But other than that, things are pretty uncomplicated—which is what I like in a cookbook. I want realistic, everyday meals. I want a cookbook I can use, not one with lots of pretty pictures of recipes that are a such pain to assemble that I'll probably never make.

When I was working full-time and going to library school full-time (yeah, that happened), I worked my way through a good half of the recipes in this cookbook. They were so easy to put together! I could let them cook in the crockpot all day and dinner would be ready when we got home. Without fail, they were all winners. The best part was that there were always leftovers, so we could have them for dinner the next day or freeze them. The only thing easier than a slow cooker meal is a leftover meal! Or stopping at Chipotle on the way home from work. (Yeah, that happened too.)

Can I freeze this soup?

You can easily freeze this soup. Simply let it cool down a bit, pour it into freezer-friendly containers or ziplock bags, and pop it in the freezer until you're ready to eat it again! I recommend separating the soup into serving-size portions so you don't have to thaw all of your frozen soup when you only want to eat one cup.

Recipe