Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup
Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup balances smoky bacon with earthy lentils and warm spices, creating a rich, satisfying bowl with gentle heat. A slow simmer melds the aromatics into a velvety broth, while fresh parsley and a drizzle of olive oil add brightness. Serve for a cozy dinner or a comforting lunch on a cool day.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook1 hr 5 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 64 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 16 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 94 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 27
- Heart Health
- 90
- Metabolic
- 51
- Digestive
- 28
- Inflammatory
- 60
- Performance
- 53
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the bacon in the hot oil until browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and salt; cook and stir until the onion is softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Season with black pepper, cumin, thyme, and cayenne pepper.
- 2
Pour the lentils into the bacon mixture and stir until fully coated in the rendered bacon fat. Add the chicken broth and bay leaf; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook, adding more chicken broth as needed, until the lentils are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- 3
Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Stir in 3 tablespoons parsley.
- 4
Ladle the soup into bowls, sprinkle the remaining parsley on top, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.
- Calories 348.34 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 27.38 g Good Source 55%
- Carbohydrate 24.53 g 9%
- Total Fat 16.75 g High 21%
- Saturated Fat 5.37 g High 27%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 42.38 mg Moderate 14%
- Sodium 1651.65 mg High 72%
- Dietary Fiber 7.61 g Good Source 27%
- Total Sugars 3.67 g --
- Added Sugars 0.05 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 79.89 mg Low Source 6%
- Iron 3.78 mg Good Source 21%
- Potassium 581.05 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin A 64.72 mcg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin C 23.87 mg Good Source 27%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Celery
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup is made with 14 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 1 hr 25 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Lentils, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, and Chicken Broth. Each serving provides about 348.34 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Lentils, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, Chicken Broth, Diced Carrots. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup?
- About 1 hr 25 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 5 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 348.34 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup healthy?
- Chef John’s Hearty Black Beluga Lentil Soup has an easyChef Pro health score of 54/100. Per serving, it provides 348.34 calories and 27.38 g of protein, or 55% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1651.65 mg (72% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.37 g (27% of the Daily Value). It contains Celery and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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