This Detox Soup recipe is the kind of comforting meal I crave when I need some extra nutrients in my life. It’s so hearty and delicious, I could eat it practically every day!
What Does a Detox Soup Do?
Let’s be clear: You can’t eat something and instantly “detox” your body, but you can take daily actions to naturally support your body’s detox organs, like the liver and kidneys.
This detox soup is a hearty and filling way to squeeze more anti-inflammatory foods into your day, without taking any drastic measures. You don’t have to eat it every day to see results, either, but you can, if you love it!
Here’s what you’ll love about this soup:
- It’s properly combined. Following food combining principles may help to streamline your digestion and reduce bloating, so it can leave you feeling more energized.
- This soup is low in calories. Since this is a broth-based soup, it’s low in calories, but is also loaded with fiber to help keep you feeling full.
- The ingredient list is simple. No need to shop for specialty ingredients! All you need is fresh veggies and herbs, affordable dry lentils, and some spices you probably already have on hand.
This soup recipe is also flexible, so if you don’t have all of the ingredients listed, feel free to swap them for what you do have. Zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, and more, will all be delicious in this soup.
Detox-Friendly Soup Ingredients
Why do I call it a detox soup? I’ve loaded this recipe with detox-friendly ingredients, to give you as much nutrition as possible, while also making it totally delicious.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Garlic. In one 12-week study, a daily garlic supplement was shown to significantly reduce cold symptoms by nearly 70% compared to a placebo group. Other studies suggest that garlic supplementation is also helpful with lowering blood pressure.
- Ginger. Ginger is thought to aid in digestion and reduce bloating, and research suggests that it may also help to lower blood sugar levels.
- Turmeric. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant that is thought to fight inflammation.
- Cilantro. Also known as coriander, this powerful herb may help with removing heavy metals from the body. Research suggests it may also help to improve memory and manage anxiety.
- Lentils. Lentils are rich in polyphenols, which may help to improve blood sugar. Lab tests also suggest that the polyphenols in lentils may help to slow or stop skin cancer growth.
- Lemon. Lemons are a source of vitamin C, providing about 31mg per lemon. (That’s about 51% of the reference daily intake (RDI).) Vitamin C may help to lower the risk of stroke and promote heart health.
Paired with flavorful veggies, including onion, celery, and carrots, this soup makes a delicious meal– one that even my 4-year-old daughter loves! (Although, she does pick out the cilantro pieces.)
How to Make It
The prep work on this detox soup is pretty minimal. Simply chop a few veggies, and you’re ready to start cooking it. I always start with the onions, carrots, and celery so they can start to soften up, then I add in the garlic, ginger, turmeric, and thyme.
Garlic can burn quickly, so you’ll only need to stir the herbs for about 1 minute, until they smell fragrant. Immediately add in the water after that, so nothing will burn.
Add in the lentils and salt, and then bring everything to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to a gentle simmer, and cover the pot with a lid.
You’ll want to cook the soup until the lentils are tender, which takes about 30 minutes. (If you add more salt, it can take longer for the lentils to cook, and if you omit the salt all together, they can cook a little faster.)
Once the lentils are tender, season with additional salt, and stir in the cilantro and lemon juice.
The herbs will wilt quickly in the hot soup. Adjust any seasoning to taste, then serve warm.
Ultimate Detox Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion , chopped
- 3 carrots , chopped
- 3 celery stalks , chopped
- 5 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 1/2 inches fresh ginger , minced (about 1 heaping tablespoon)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon freshly chopped rosemary)
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup dry green or brown lentils
- 2 teaspoons fine Himalayan salt , divided
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (or to taste)
Instructions
- In a large pot (I use a 6-quart one), heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, carrots, and celery, and stir until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add in the garlic, ginger, turmeric, and thyme, and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Immediately add in the water after that, so the garlic won't start to burn.
- Add in the lentils, 1 teaspoon of salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Cover and let the soup cook until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
- When the lentils are tender, add in the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, along with the cilantro and lemon juice. The cilantro will wilt quickly in the hot soup. Adjust any seasoning to taste, and serve warm.
- Leftover detox soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Need More Detox Recipes?
- Detox Juice
- Classic Detox Smoothie
- Blueberry Detox Smoothie
- The Best Detox Salad
- 2-Ingredient Detox Spaghetti
If you try this Detox Soup recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know how you like it! And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too. We can all benefit from your experience!
–
Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite go-to recipe when you want to feel better fast?
Good flavor and lots of healthy ingredients. I used brown lentils, since I didn’t find green ones at my store.
I’m doing a soup challenge this week. This recipe was one for hem. It is really good! I love the brightness of the lemon and cilantro. I also really like that there are so many vegetables in this soup. It is a great recipe my whole family enjoyed!
Very tasty – did not add anything, reduced the cilantro as I don’t care for the flavor.
Someone asked about what the serving size is since they are on WW – That would be one thing that maybe could be included in the future is the serving size so it’s easier and quicker to divide the leftovers into single serving containers.
Wow soooo delicious! Added a little extra carrots and celery just to finish them off so added an extra cup of water too, yum
Sooo good
Had it for lunch and will have it again for dinner Yummy
sooo yummy! I love a good detox soup and this one had so much flavour! will DEFINETLY be making again!
Since I am a lover of lentils this soup is one up my alley.I often make a German sweet and sour lentil soup which I just love as well. I did add some small potatoes and lemon rind to this soup, the lemon rind Iremoved later, for a little extra zing.This is a soup which can be made with just left over veggies left over during the week to achieve a similar result. I did not use as much salt when making the soup but adjust flavors later towards the end.I used green lentils I had left over from the Red Lentil Curry Soup, not a fan of the red lentils.
Really delicious and filling. I enjoyed that brightness of lemon juice in there. I never thought to add that before to a soup that can go so savory like this.
I made this soup just as written. Very Good. I used to make a Weigh Watchers soup that is very similar to this but It had cabbage as a main ingredient, This version is good too. I will make it again for sure.
I just feel healthier as I eat this soup! I really like the bright flavor from the ginger and lemon. I zested a bit of the lemon and added that too.
I have made lentil soup in the last but never with so much flavor. It was wonderful. Thank you
My initial reaction was too much lemon taste but I like it more with each bite. I used chicken broth and didn’t add any salt. I used kale in place of cilantro, black lentils instead of green.
I don’t LOVE lentils in soup so I think I will remake this with white kidney beans next time because the flavour was certainly there and I like the amount of veggies!!
Super quick and easy too 😊
This soup surprised me! Love the lentils.
This soup has a good flavor. It would be best eaten after eating a lot of heavy food (like during the holidays).
So glad I tried this recipe. I didn’t think I would like it, but I like it very much.
Made it today. The kids enjoyed it and said very flavorful. Easy to make and delicious. Definitely will be trying it again.
This is a nice detox soup, I’m not a big fan of lentils, I think I’ll halve the lentils next time. But I do love the coriander in it.
All around a filling and nourishing soup. I did feel as though it was a little bit too much lemon for me but that is easily adjustable.
It is tasty, filling, and without a load of calories. Another excellent collection.
I LOVE this recipe!!!! I am going to keep this on our rotation!!!! I loved the lemon and pesto for this soup!
Ultimate Detox Soup
I love how easy this recipe is and how satisfying as well as delicious. I think I’ll incorporate lentils more into my diet as it’s not only healthy but very filling and low in calories. Another winner!
I new this soup was going to be a home run!!!
I love lentil soup and this one did not disappoint. Easy to make and very tasty. I ate it as is but my husband added some chicken. Another good recipe. Thank you!
Oh this was really good ! Very warming without being hot spicy.with a lemon hint we really like it. Blended it up and add noodles for the kid and they like it , I’m thinking next time adding chicken with the liquid from can add it be a good chicken noodle for when your sick.
I LOVE this soup! It will be a regular in my rotation.
It is super easy to make and it is really good
Loved the soup! Very fresh tasting and so good for you I added some spinach at the end
Good hearty soup!
Amazing flavor. Best “detox” food ever.
I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of this. The cilantro and lemon really set it off.
Oddly enough, I liked it better the second day! Definitely on my list to make again.
This was good. I was afraid of it being bland but that was not the case. I didn’t use oil and used vegetable broth instead of water. The fresh lemon abs cilantro took it over the top!
I so wanted to add fresh tomatoes! I liked it, it smells delightful, but my husband just didn’t care for it. Thanks for the recipe- I’ll probably try it with more broth & veggies next time. Brenda
Nice hearty soup.
I love lentils!! It is a common ingredient for me, so I was looking forward to a 2nd lentil recipe this week. This was a great soup. And it challenged my taste buds because I seldom use fresh ginger or turmeric. I substituted parsley for cilantro just because I prefer the flavor.
When I first tasted this soup, I thought it was kind of bland. When I added the cilantro & lemon juice, it totally elevated the soup. This is so good & comforting. A perfect fall soup. I then added a little pesto and OMG, the flavor changed again. Delicious, either way, its a very good soup that’s quick and easy to make.
Came together quickly and full of flavor.
Great flavors, will definitely make again. I don’t use turmeric very often; it really added some great flavor along with the ginger and garlic, which I love. Loved the addition of cilantro too.
Delicious and quick and easy to make. A triple threat. With or without pesto it is scrumptious and filling. I’m glad there is leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
Another winner! I was skeptical about the ginger, but it went lovely with the lemon juice and texture of this soup. 5 stars! Will make again!
Another great recipe, Megan. It is easy to make and a delicious hearty soup.
This soup has just the right amount of texture and is comforting to know it’s made with simple and whole food ingredients.
This was so delicious and flavorful! I will definitely make it again.
Replaced Thyme with tarragon. Didn’t like it fresh but a day later with some pesto mixed in it tasted really good
Delicious, good flavor. I do not like a lot of ginger and wondered about the ginger, but it didn’t overpower the flavors, all blended together well.
As a family we love this lentil. In Indian family this lentil get eaten lot. But we enjoyed twist with veggies this time
This was another 5 star soup. Didn’t make my own vegan pesto but used Trader Joe’s Vegan Pesto and also used Better than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Base which was fabulous. This will be a staple for us.
I skipped the cilantro and lemon juice, added red bell pepper and parsley. Except that I put a little too much ginger this turned out well. I liked it, but my husband didn’t. Maybe because of the ginger.
Healthy soup option and very easy, I did add barley to make it a bit more filling.