Italian Lentil Soup Recipe
And stories from our holidays!
This hearty Italian Lentil Soup recipe comes together in just thirty minutes. Be sure to make a big pot-this healthy soup is naturally gluten-free and vegan! A total freezer-friendly soup, so you will want to have extra!
We have so many more soup recipes on our blog!
Every region of Italy has their own version of the humble and delicious vegetarian lentil soup (zuppa di lenticchie). No matter the region, each recipe will usually begin with a simple soffritto.
Like many Italians, we celebrate New Year’s Eve with a comforting bowl of lentil soup, a tradition that’s as much about flavor as it is about symbolism. The round lentils, resembling coins, are said to bring abundance, prosperity, and a long life. In true Italian fashion, the theory goes: the more you eat, the more abundance you’ll receive. Naturally, we take this to heart—cooking up a double batch to share with neighbors and friends, spreading the joy and "buona for
tuna" (good luck) for the year ahead.
This year, I was celebrating the New Year in Italy, and the lentils are sometimes served alongside cotechino, a rich, fat pork sausage that pairs perfectly with the hearty dish.
A little bit of photos from the Christmas markets I saw last month in Aosta, Italy. They changed the location to the main piazza in the city and they did a beautiful job setting it up like a magical Christmas forest in the Alps.
These vendors from Salumi Barabino were super friendly and very excited to sell their delicious salami. They had a great special where you could get 3 small pieces for just 5 euros. They kept selling everyday in the cold and were enthusiastically passing out samples along with jokes! Typical Italian style!
Aosta did a wonderful job creating a magical forest with all of the locally crafted wooden artwork.
There are multiple booths with food to try. This is the booth that has lovely apple fritters. Although, the vendors are very opposed to any paparazzi. Not really sure why they are against their fritters being filmed, or they are afraid of their faces showing up on social media.
On the last evening of the Christmas markets, La Befana made a visit! On the night of January 5th, La Befana flies on her broomstick, visiting children and leaving small gifts like candy, fruit, or toys for those who were good. For naughty children, she leaves lumps of coal. You can see her walking in front of the marching band. She has her broom stick and a basket of candies.
The marching band continued on to the Christmas market center and played some Christmas music around the tree. It was truly beautiful and magical. It was also very cold! But they do sell Vin Brulé (Italian style mulled wine),and other hot drinks to warm you up!
Back to the lentil soup…IF you can't get your hands on any cotechino, it is fine to substitute with high-quality sausage. I highly recommend a very good quality sausage, as it will make the dish even tastier! Or be adventurous and make your own sausage.
As for the lentils, use black lentils or French green lentils (du Puy). If you can find Italian lentils, do use them. These varieties hold their shape beautifully and bring a slightly peppery note to the soup. I wouldn't use red lentils, while delicious in other dishes, they will cook up way too mushy in this dish.
I always recommend a generous drizzle of your best extra virgin olive oil for richness. For a boost of nutrients, toss in some chopped kale when the soup is finishing up cooking. Whether it’s New Year’s Eve or a cozy winter night, this lentil soup brings warmth, flavor, and a little extra luck to the table.
Oh, and by the way, this is Lora writing this post. Gabby does all the travel articles. I will be back soon with another recipe and some stories!
Buon Anno and we wish all our readers a joyful and prosperous year.