An authentic Indian lentil curry soup, Mulligatawny Soup is flavoured with curry paste, garam masala, green apples and coconut milk.
Mulligatawny Soup
I’ve tried this soup a few times over the years and enjoyed the simplicity that goes into making it, and how delicious tasting it is. To be honest any soup with a curry flavour base and coconut milk has my attention.
We opted to make this a vegetarian soup although you could add roasted shredded chicken or leftover roast turkey for some additional protein.
Why Red Lentils
Red Lentils are both a pulse and a legume and a must have pantry item. Added to meals they offer a delicious option for when you want to have a lighter, vegetarian meal. Red lentils are hulled and split before packaging making them easier to cook with than most other legumes.
This is a meal that will come together quickly. The lentils cook fast, offer a faint sweet, nutty note and will get a little mushy making them excellent in soups, stews or curries. These guys are a natural thickener.
What to eat with this soup
Are you the type of person that loves a side with your soup? Or is your big bowl of soup your entire meal?! I swing either way. Some days I prefer a small cup of soup with a side and other days bring on a big mug of steaming love!
Try any of these sides with your vibrant bowl of mulligatawny soup.
- Crusty bread.
- Soup and a sandwich. Need we say more.
- Salad on the side.
- Fresh vegetables on the side.
- Fresh naan or pita bread.
- Cheese toast.
How to serve this soup
Pour hot steaming soup into a bowl or mug. Drizzle on some olive oil when serving and freshly cracked black pepper. Other ways to finish your soup, top with fresh cilantro, basil, parsley, dill or spinach.
I made this soup for a soup swap and drop and sent along a little fresh cilantro with each one to ensure they were able to add some on top.
PRO TIPS:
- This is a vegetarian soup although you can add roasted chicken towards the end.
- We factor in about 2 cups per person per serving in this recipe.
- Add your cooked rice just before serving. You need only to reheat it, not cook it or it will become mush.
- Swap flat leaf parsley for cilantro if you don’t like the taste of cilantro.
- Instead of cooked rice, add cooked orzo.
Other soup recipes to try:
- Thai Turkey Coconut Soup: leftover turkey or chicken
- Pizza Soup: a favourite for pizza lovers
- Carrot and Cumin Soup: combines simple flavours
- Chicken Tortilla Soup: a family favourite
If you made this recipe tag Wanda Baker on Instagram and hashtag it #bakersbeans or #wandabaker

Ingredients
- olive oil
- 1 small onion or 1/2 onion, diced small
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 tsp ginger, freshly grated
- 1 tbsp curry paste
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2 bay leaves
- salt and pepper
- 10 cups stock
- 1/2 cup red lentils, washed and picked through
- 1 green apple, diced
- 1 can coconut milk
- 3/4 cup cooked rice, cooled
- cilantro, chopped for garnish
- 1 lime, cut into wedges to squeeze on top
Instructions
- heat oil in a sauce pan over medium-high heat.
- Add onions, celery and carrots cooking until onions are getting soft, 5-10 minutes. Add garlic and ginger sauteeing for 1-2 minutes.
- Mix in curry paste and garam masala, let cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Toss in bay leaves, a good pinch salt and pepper, and pour in your stock. Bring soup to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Stir in lentils and continue to cook until they are tender, about 15 minutes. Add green apple and coconut milk.
- Do not let coconut milk boil, but cook for a couple minutes more. Stir in your rice.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with cilantro sprinkled on top and a squeeze of fresh lime.
Mmmm this is such a filling, tasty soup.
It quickly became a family favourite!
I have had a few different versions of mulligatawny but never with a green apple! It was SO good.
Perfect Meatless Monday meal!
This soup was delicious and perfect for this cold blustery day! I love how simple it is to make, too.
The kids loved it so it’s going into rotation!
ive never tried Mulligatawny Soup with green apples. what an interesting take on it!
The apples add a nice little crunch to the soup!
We all loved this soup! It’s going into our meal rotation for sure.
Wonderful! And so easy to make!
Thanks for Giving us Such a Great Information