Spicy Red Lentil & Chickpea Soup

A slow cooker makes this spicy red lentil & chickpea soup with butternut squash super easy. Smoked paprika and red pepper flakes give it a kick.

My slow cooker lives in an awkward cabinet above the refrigerator. I have to climb up on a dining chair to hoist it down.

It is in such an inconvenient spot as if I am doing my best not to use it, which is ridiculous.

I blame our nearly 13 year old kitchen.

Not only is it in dire need of reorganization, it could use a full-fledged renovation. Stay-tuned.

As a result, the slow cooker’s inconvenient location means it doesn’t get as much attention as it should.

Every time I do use it, I am reminded of just how great a small appliance, the mighty slow cooker is.

From entrees to soups to stews, it’s a really versatile, time-saving device. I get why people are obsessed.

Whenever I pull my slow cooker out to make a warm hearty meal, the result is always big on flavor and takes little effort.

There’s not much more I could ask for of a weeknight dinner!

The growing number of colder days ha me craving big bowls of soup. Instead of my usual veggie purée plus stock method of soup making, sometimes I reach for the slow cooker.

How To Make Spicy Red Lentil & Chickpea Soup

I love making of this soup, so I  keep a stash of red lentils in my kitchen.

The soup has a good dose of heat thanks to a generous amount of smoked paprika and red pepper flakes.

It’s always a win-win to find a soup that’s temperature hot and spicy hot because each bite is double the warmth.

This spicy red lentil & chickpea soup also has chunks of butternut squash and diced tomatoes. I finish off each bowl with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

Soup in the slow cooker is so simple that I’ve been trying to stake out space for this gadget on a lower shelf where I would have easier access to it.

Spicy Red Lentil & Chickpea Soup

• Author: Paige Adams
• Prep Time: 10 minues
• Cook Time: 5 hours
• Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4–6 1x

A slow cooker makes this spicy red lentil & chickpea soup with butternut squash super easy. Smoked paprika and red pepper flakes give it a kick.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 white onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 10 ounces peeled butternut squash, cubed
• 3/4 cup red lentils
• 1–15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1–14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
• 3 cups water
• 3 cups vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sauté the onions until they start to soften, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, ginger, paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
2. Transfer the onion mixture to a slow cooker. Add the squash, lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes, water and stock. Cook on low for 5 hours. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

Notes

Adapted from Slow Cooker by The Australian Women’s Weekly