The Best Green Lentil “Gumbo” Soup | Food Wishes

Learn how to make an incredible green lentil soup that tastes like a classic Louisiana style gumbo! By using lentils instead of flour and butter to thicken the soup, we produce something that’s much lighter, yet still very satisfying and comforting. Enjoy!
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[@foodwishes]

Just double-checking everyone saw that the word "Gumbo" is in quotation marks, since this is in no way actual gumbo. It's like when I'm at a party, and I tell people I'm a "chef."

[@txmike1945]

Yeah, but "gumbo" is actually the original term for okra that is common in Cajun Gumbo. So you are absolved by virtue of adding some cut okra to the mix!!

[@zerozerozero_0]

I always hear okra gets slimey? How can you make sure it doesnt

[@txmike1945]

The only way I cook okra is in a chicken and sausage gumbo and it gets incorporated along with other vegetables and is not "slimy." @@zerozerozero_0

[@markskibo5159]

Double checking that wasn't any andouille I ever saw! Should have been "andouille" to Looks absolutely delicious

[@RandomPerson8908]

​@@zerozerozero_0 You can spread it out on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven at 350-400 until it dries a bit and gets a little brown. It cuts the sliminess, and you still get to have okra in your gumbo.

[@lexgblack]

Looks delicious! When I start a recipe like this, I soak the lentils in cold water for about 30 min while I cook everything else. Then I drain and add to the soup. It helps them cook a little more evenly and they get tender without falling apart. Definitely not required but a tip I've found improved my lentil experience :)

[@zz3410]

Nice tip! Another thing I do is not to add salt until the end to allow the lentils to cook faster.

[@daalelli]

I never thought to soak them while you're cooking everything else, thanks!

[@Chaucer129]

Thank you!

[@bcal5962]

This is what I was wondering about

[@marilyn2159]

Making this for the second time.DELICIOUS!

[@tarrantx]

I made a double sized amount of this tonight, and used leek and zucchini. This was a perfect dish for me and my wife, as she is sick and off work, so I portioned it into containers so that she has some reasonably healthy food available for the next week, while I'm at work. This dish was perfect timing, as I am terrible at making soups, but this was the first one I tried that actually tasted good :) After 10 years of following your dishes, I have never made anything of yours that doesn't taste good. I have learnt so much from you, and your recipes have brought so much flavour into our lives. Some of my favourites have been salted caramel custard, sloppy joes, queso dip, one pan mince stroganoff and, my proudest moment, demi glace. You are a truly inspirational cook, and a truly great chef as far as I am concerned.

[@theraweggfiles]

We Cubans have a similar dish. We call it Potaje de Lenteja (Lentil stew). We use a variety of ingredients but one of the best additions is little sausages, chorizo, ham and salted pork. So amazing! Thank you for another incredible vid.

[@jimbeck2029]

Made this Friday Chef John. I did a roux, just because I'm suckered for tradition, but it turned out amazing. Some creole Nana is rolling over in her grave seeing lentils and the added kale I put in.

[@lancelotdufrane]

I am a huge fan of thick hearty soups. This looks absolutely perfect! Thanks Chef!

[@mangachanfan1556]

Me too! I like "meal" soups too!! ❤

[@proteinaggie]

Listening to Chef John rhapsodize about a recipe is more relaxing than a weekend Zen retreat.

[@mangachanfan1556]

Ive tried enough of Chef John's recipes to know that even the ones I would never eat are gonna be delicious. Getting my grocery list ready!! Thanks Chef John ❤❤❤😊

[@stephennetu]

You added okra, so in my mind, this is gumbo, through and through! Love okra so much. Do more recipes with it, please! Get folks on board with it. It's "slimy" when preparing, sure, but cooked well it's out of this world!

[@annalockwood3021]

I love this idea! As others have said, I have more lentils in my pantry than I know what to do with. Gumbo to the rescue. My favorite is with shrimp and ham because they're both fairly easy to source and not hugely expensive where I live.

[@Laurie-em6vn]

I made this recipe today. It was delicious. I served it with my hot, homemade French bread. It was a great meal. Thank you, CHef John! I will be making this again soon.

[@user-op1ee7px1b]

Love you Chef John! Every time I follow your instruction I make the best meal I’ve ever made. I appreciate your style

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

This is my go-to soup recipe for the flu. It's so delicious and comforting. I love adding caramelized mushrooms with the Lentils. Thank you Chef John 🍲😊

[@eliseleonard3477]

Lentil soup is great and underestimated, even when it’s fairly simple. This looks amazing!

[@06hatter]

I make a sort of version of this in my instant pot when I'm able, lentils and split peas work so well in that

[@gusz4019]

Looks delicious BUT if it’s the best you’ve had in a while it mean you haven’t had REVITHOSOUPA (Greek chick pea soup). Onions, celery, carrot, garlic and lemon zest, chickpeas with broth. Finish by adding lemon juice, olive oil and blitzing to thicken. Best soup in the world. Meal replacement. Healthy. My favorite.

[@mahauttyrrell6052]

Absolutly delicious. I didn't have enough lentils so I added red kidney beans and whatever else I could put my hands on (carrots, white cabbage...). Love your foolproof recipes.

[@veronicazambrano3906]

Love lentil soups and so happy to find a hearty soup with no tomatoes as an integral ingredient. I can't have them, but so often, they are a key component to the flavor. Can't wait to make this soup!

[@marksadler6558]

You were totally reading my mind on this recipe. My wife Lisa and I were trying to use up leftover sausage and chicken to make something cajunesque 2 days ago. (She’s a transplant from Louisiana). This looks amazing and it’s going to be on the menu for dinner this week. Thanks!

[@jeanettemarkley7299]

It's Autumn now. Chef John has made soup. I always eat Jasmine rice unless it's a special dish that calls for another kind.

[@doodahgurlie]

Genius idea, Chef John! I've made gumbo (and yes, I always add okra to mine, but plenty of people don't) and have also made lentil soup with sausage and added my own homemade chili garlic sauce....so this is a great way to combine them.

[@warlockofwordschannel7901]

Thank you for your channel, I made several recipes from here for my late, wonderful mother, Yvonne, she loved your style!

[@CloudyDaze]

I needed a way to use my lentils after i got tired of being full vegetarian. Thanks for the recipe!!!!

[@Hoaxer51]

Welcome back, an old Canadian once said that “Vegetarian stands for I Don’t hunt so good”. I hope you like my attempt at being funny. Have a good one!

[@imightbebiased9311]

They work good as a bean alternative or addition to chili, as well. Same kind of flavor profile.

[@hpartsch]

Just got done making this, it is amazing! Soaked the lentils as someone else suggested while preparing everything else.

[@luisolivares1228]

You have made me a much better home cook. Thanks

[@lovelybitofsquirrel8272]

i appreciate your honesty about those grains of rice chef. this is why i watch your videos, a chef i can trust

[@candykane4271]

I love his subtle humor thrown in.

[@kittywetzel92]

I love this idea because I happen to have a half bag of lentils left from a meatless lentil soup I made. This would be perfect to use them up! Thank you, Chef John!!!

[@malcontent_1]

My mom who was from Opelousas, Louisana but who spent her adult years in the SF Bay Area would have _loved_ this "gumbo" soup

[@gatitovirus]

Thank you Chef John can't wait to add shrimp 🦐

[@marieb9926]

This is a must try going into soup season. I need more soups without cheese.

[@rcuriel84]

It looks so delicious, I have plenty of green lentils left from my last recipe. So I'll be getting this tonight

[@commentsboardreferee7434]

I've only made one soup of his and it was really really good - potato leek.

[@RobertPodosek]

I LOVE potato leek soup. Good choice.

[@winott8417]

We made this stew last night. It was absolutely delicious! I’m looking forward to leftovers later today. :) Thank you for the recipe!

[@celticceltic99]

How wonderful of you to post a soup using lentils! I was just looking at a bag of dried lentils wondering how I could cook them so they would taste good.

[@cuearesty]

It reminds me of the filipino ginisang munggo (mung beans), except our holy trinity is garlic, onion, and tomatoes. Inpires me to use sausages or ham next time i make some. Thank you, Chef John!

[@PetraRobinson-gm8nh]

I love a good Lentil soup. Best Autumn comfort dish along with Chicken soup.

[@Dan-yw9sg]

Oh wow! This is incredible! Thank you Chef John!

[@melissaweyrick5311]

Making a grocery list for this recipe. His recipes never fail. 😻

[@RevSquatchFultz]

Thank you for all the good recipes Chef John

[@pandoraeeris7860]

We need a new series now, "Will it gumbo?"

[@kathleenray1827]

NO!!!!!! Disney got taught about publishing a crappy “gumbo” recipe. All of Louisiana raised their tiny cayenne crusted fists and called them out….. They eventually took down the “gumbo” recipe because the comment section blew up…. It was the funniest thing I had read in years. They are know as Ragin’ Cajuns for a reason!

[@chanvalentine8283]

Perfect timing, I'm adding more fiber to my diet. Lentils are very helpful.❤ I'll show this to my roomie. She'll be sold on it by just adding the Bay leaf.

[@edwardstevensjr9506]

Chef John thanks for sharing this recipe with us ❤❤❤ God/Jesus Bless you and your family

[@jrmint2]

this looks awesome! adding lentils is a great idea!

[@stormyskyz7881]

It’s always a pleasure Chef John

[@paulwagner688]

Definitely going in my rotation.

[@WilliamFluery]

TiME SAVER - I use my alarm clock to wake up the spices

[@connieknox7992]

Lmao!! 🤣

[@ohm_slaw3361]

Just made this yesterday with the same meat/veg selections. Very good... almost suspiciously good. Will definitely be making this again and again!

[@abiyah3176]

I used to make a version of this in Mexico because I couldn’t find red beans. This is the best

[@carolinaklein4946]

Hello Chef John! I’ve beef watching for years and years. Since your videos consisted of 7 drunk pixels trying to become an image. I recently moved back to my home town, Mallorca Spain. The Balearic Islands have very different dishes from the rest of Spain, and are incredibly underrated. My favorite Dish is Sopas Mallorquinas or Sopes Mallorquines in the local dialect. It’s essentially a Cabbage and rustic bread soup. I like to make it with Chorizo. I would love it if you could recreate this wonderful dish for us, since the only people on KZbin making it right now are 90 year old ladies with very thick accents. Love you lots!

[@hansdampf4055]

I cooked it today and it tastes wonderful! However, I used the dark roux. This not only binds, it is also a taste component. For me, it's just part of lenses.

[@davidcarbone3385]

Love green lentils and sweet Italian sausage with spinach and am excited to make this gumbo. Will also try it using mushrooms!

[@stella25579]

I made it the other day ❤was so simple to make and so Delicious

[@judyd.8338]

That looks very enjoyable! And nice for people like me who don't consume gluten anymore--so thanks much for that! I will definitely give it a go when the weather gets colder :)

[@maatx4027]

Thank you for this Chef John. It's perfect for this time of year! ❤

[@stevenej9894]

"Gumbo" actually refers to stews thickened with okra. Although Cajun versions of Gumbo contain a roux (and often gumbo filé), many creole versions do not- so, if you have okra in it, no quotation marks required!

[@marciapulling585]

I was just about to comment on gumbo file’. I love it sprinkled on to the bowl of gumbo. 😂

[@snowballsmom9827]

This is going on my must try list!

[@cploss8533]

This looks so great! Love lentils and quinoa ~ can't wait to make this!!! 🙂

[@janetgerney2094]

Thank you, Chef John! I love lentils, but I'm not at all into the 'beef lentil stew' route. I, too, am a gumbo fan and this recipe is perfect (especially the okra, which should always go in gumbo, imho).

[@user-bc6ok1yh4s]

Same here, but I know I can make it red meat free with soy chorizo.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

This looks so satisfying--thanks for the inspiration. I see this meal in the near future!

[@seeky907]

I just made a batch, it's a winner.

[@misterdubity3073]

Does that amount of okra provide much (or any) thickening? Thanks (because I want to be the Detective Columbo ... of my Green Lentil Gumbo)

[@carolynethrasher4527]

😂

[@coreyadams1982]

Interesting... I will definitely have to try this

[@dw908]

Amazingly delicious and healthy dish! I followed the entire recipe with the exception of the okra. I didn't have access to fresh okra, and I haven't eaten it since I was a kid (didn't like it at that time). I used frozen okra and added it after I started simmering the lentils. That was a MISTAKE. They turned to mush but did not affect the overall taste. It just seemed like I added overcooked zucchini. So, if using frozen okra, just add it at the very last seasoning step and wait for the thaw.

[@JB-pe2yn]

Made it this past weekend! It was delicious!! I'll add more okra next time.

[@austinsuter1990]

We're dairy free right now because of some issues with my daughter. Struggling for ideas. I'm gonna make her this. Thank you!

[@ChiliPepperMadness]

This gumbo soup looks amazing!

[@art-alchemy]

I really love this recipe..we do something similar with the lentils in our home. I will give this one a go really soon. Thanks

[@hansdampf4055]

A wonderful dish! Fits perfectly in the fall and I love all kinds of lentils. 👍

[@Gigimamapa5]

… and as always, this recipe looks delicious 😋.

[@daniellecrevier970]

I made and give it 10/10 👍👍👍 Very good and easy😀

[@LukaGoldbell]

Two of my favorite soups in one :O Definitely gonna try this this week, I have some shrimp in my freezer that I need to use up.

[@dillbourne]

Well Chef John decided for me what I'm making tomorrow

[@nancyk-ms3pc]

Simply devine. I can't wait. WOW!

[@viasummerseye6095]

Have you done voice overs for financial videos? You sound soooo much like a voice over to videos I've been watching on my accounting class!

[@bradvenisnik9397]

Love you love your channel. I've tried other no roux gumbos and did not like...so I will stick with the roux method.

[@fillhixx]

I added lentils to my pantry a year or two ago and have never looked back! I have no idea where they were hiding from my life ‘till now…

[@wardrobelion]

I learn something from every video👍. I always thought it was okra that was the signature ingredient in gumbo💭…which is why I never ate it. This “gumbo” looks delicious.

[@CharlesDickens111]

Just what I was looking for!! Thank you!!!

[@pistolpete8231]

I find it very interesting how we as humans have been able to transcend our respective cultures. In Ivory Coast, we have a dish called "sauce Gombo" (Okra in French is Gombo), I bet Americans don't know why this particular dish is called "gumbo". It's all about the Okra. A vegetable which is used in abundance in West Africa. Btw, the okra makes the soup very thick and gooey naturally, no need to add the "rue" as they do in the west.

[@paulbingville6485]

Pretty sure okra is the reason Louisiana gumbo is called gumbo.

[@txmike1945]

Some of us know! Those of us raised in French Louisiana. (And it is 'roux', not 'rue.' It is from French.)

[@pistolpete8231]

@txmike1945 What does "roux" mean? My mother tongue in french and I don't know that word. The word "Roux" in the literal sense means 'redhead' in French. In the context of the culinary arts however, this word has no meaning - not one I'm aware of

[@lindainparis7349]

Good to know thickening properties of okra. How long max can you cook it without disintegrating it ?

[@txmike1945]

Depends on how small it is cut up. When I make a gumbo and simmer it 45 minutes the okra has mostly cooked down to unrecognizable. Which is fine. @@lindainparis7349

[@killercaos123]

This looks like a soup that would be a 10/10 on a sold November day

[@garys8415]

Dinner is served.🦋

[@patwo4259]

This looks delicious.. I will definitely make this.

[@kathymilesdesign]

This was delicious!!

[@lyndamoore1626]

Dearest Chef John, I would like to beg to differ with you on the thickening agent being the lentils. It is most likely the OKRA. Yes, the okra!

[@CureInsomnia]

He did say “thicken slightly”

[@KoniB.]

Perfect!

[@richardprescott6322]

Now that looks right nice - definitely trying that matie

[@dachandewuffsteiger]

I prefer adding some zucchini in place of okra because my house mates claim they don't like okra even though they taste like green with goo. But ya know coddled kids who also think cabbage is gross unless it's in coleslaw form. But Okra is fantastic, I encourage it in more soups. I put it in some chicken noodle soup and it was delightfully silky and vegetal.

[@discman15]

Seriously amazing dish, I was out of worcestershire so I swapped in Vietnamese fish sauce

[@carolynethrasher4527]

Love this economical and tasty soup recipe! It’s going on the meal plan for next week. I think I would sub out the thighs for 4-6 drumsticks and then fish them out and take the meat off and the bones and return the meat to the pot. I think I’ll have sourdough garlic bread and salad on the side. Yummy!

[@melissalaird6318]

That soup looks so good!

[@magean0301]

Great recipe. This looks very much like a French way to cook lentils with smoked sausage that, to my knowledge, doesn't have a name. The only difference being, of course, that the French version would have carrots in place of bell peppers (the classic mirepoix) and no creole seasonings (but possibly black pepper, garlic and cloves), but aside from that it's the same. Besides, another way to a lighter gumbo would be to use (some or all of) the rendered fat from the sausages to make the roux. So, you wouldn't need to add more fat.

[@amorino77ify]

Love this channel

[@nERVEcenter117]

A pressure cooker probably cuts the time down on this a good bit, though a dutch oven would have a wider base for sauteeing all those ingredients.

[@HBrooks]

aside from a roux and the lentils, that's pretty much a gumbo. there are so many varieties of 'gumbo' out there that it has basically become a catch-all name for a spicy stew, usually cajun/creole flavored

[@StarTraveler649]

Only for those outside of Cajun Country. Lol

[@retiredump7038]

Like most rustic stews, Gumbo ingredients are what you had when cooked. If you had some squirrels, they went into the Gumbo. Have a fresh chicken, some went into the Gumbo. Lived near the coast, then shrimp went into the gumbo. In SW Louisiana, crawdads and gator certainly went into the Gumbo. These kinds of stews were about making something delicious with what you had on hand, not the fancy ingredients purchased from a store.

[@BrewerCooker]

Very nice. I like your artistic talent when making the food. Perfect temps, perfect timing, good spices. Congrats. I have viewed more than 50 of your videos over the years. (Why is the b in videos so close to the v in videos?)😂

[@anthonybarnes]

Now this looks good!

[@canaan_perry]

Nice riff on a Gumbo.

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

This is surprisingly close to Hungarian style lentil soup (although we don't have okra here). Especially the "mindent bele" (all in) kind when you just toss in everything that seems to be fitting :D

[@savannamillen7276]

In the world I live in, the trinity is: onion, carrot and celery