SouthernTurk
Unusual recipes for curious cooks.
https://southernturk.com/recipe/blender-berbere-lentil-soup
Printed July 28, 2026
Printed July 28, 2026
Cooking Without Limits
Blender Berbere Lentil Soup
This Ethiopian-inspired soup requires zero chopping because everything gets blitzed in a blender before cooking. Bold, spicy, and incredibly satisfying with minimal active time.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 inch ginger, peeled
- 1 can (400g) diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons berbere spice blend
- 1½ cups red lentils
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Forget spending twenty minutes dicing aromatics. This soup takes a revolutionary approach: blend first, cook second. The result is a silky, deeply spiced lentil soup that tastes like it simmered for hours.
Preparation
- In a blender, combine the onion, garlic, ginger, canned tomatoes (with their juice), and berbere spice. Blend until completely smooth.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Pour the blended mixture into the pot (careful, it may sputter slightly). Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the raw onion smell mellows.
- Add the tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the lentils and vegetable broth. Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are completely soft and the soup has thickened.
- Stir in lemon juice and salt to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with cilantro if desired.
Accessibility tip: The blender does all the hard work, making this perfect for anyone with limited knife skills or hand mobility issues.
