Instant Pot detox soup | Vegetable Lentil Quinoa soup diet

Instant Pot detox soup | Vegetable Lentil Quinoa soup diet is my favorite detox soup that is ready under 30 minutes. A super food one pot meal that you should make again and again if you follow healthy lifestyle and clean eating. This soup is rightly named “24 carrot gold soup ” by my family because it is truly a treasure. A simple lentil and quinoa preparation with addition of vegetables like carrots , spinach and spices like ginger , turmeric  makes up this hearty soup. I would take the liberty to call it a wholesome meal . This soup is highly customizable when it comes to what veggies to use. You may add cabbage, cauliflower or any greens to this body cleansing soup.

Happiness is when you can fit into your favorite jeans post pregnancy.  If you are following me then you already know that I was expecting and delivered a beautiful baby boy early this year. Since then life has been busy with two kids. Guysss I am just 5 pounds away from my pre pregnancy weight. You can totally imagine me doing the happy dance right now.

I had gained around 50 pounds this pregnancy . Once the baby was out I was still 20 pounds up and was wishing to lose it all as soon as possible.I had all these plans to go to the gym and get rid of those extra pounds. With a new-born in the house and a super active 6-year-old that seemed nearly impossible. I haven’t got the time to go to the gym but tried to do light exercises at home. That happened rarely because I felt so exhausted with exclusively breast-feeding, sleepless nights and no breather during the day time , doing chores , taking care of the kids , cooking and stuff. So whenever I got time I chose napping over exercise. I told to myself this routine isn’t working but I knew deep down that it isn’t permanent either. I knew things will get better once my little one is settled in a routine . It is just a matter of time. And after 4 months it is a little better now.

I thought if I can’t find time to exercise then at least I can watch what I eat. I can never ever crash diet or starve , that is just not me .  But what I can do is include the right type and combination of food.

One thing that really helped me loosing weight without crash diet or going hungry was sticking to fresh fruits, vegetables ,nuts, milk,  whole grain , lentils and beans . I do indulge in a slice of cake or a cookie few times a week because oh well I am weak on my cravings!! Nursing my baby makes me hungry all the time, I mean really hungry.I literally scream GIMME CARBS!!

My mom was here to help me out with the kids . We started making lot of One Pot Meals in the Instant Pot. We made a large batch of soups, stews, curries. Whenever I felt like snacking she used to offer me this big bowl of soup packed with beans/ lentils and vegetables that kept me fuller until next meal. And it was a big time game changer. I felt full and didn’t have a lot of cravings. If you are a nursing mom then do include lentils in your diet. It increases milk supply .

This flavorful Quinoa lentil soup recipe loaded with vegetables that I am sharing today is my current favorite one pot meal . This soup is just one of the many meals that helped me get closer to my goal. Duh!!! eating the same thing everyday is boring!!!!! I will be sharing many such tried and tested one pot meals with you in coming weeks . 

What is this detox soup made of ?

Lentils – An inexpensive super food ingredient that is a must have for a clean eating diet. Lentils are super simple to cook even without  pressure cooking. They cook rather quickly as compared to the beans . Lentils are nutrient dense and are low in calories. They are high in protein and are good carbs. Moreover lentils keeps you full for a longer time hence aids successful weight loss too. Lentils are good for your heart, controls diabetes and improves digestive health.I have used golden lentils here. Feel free to use red lentils . Other lentils are equally delicious but outcome in the color will differ in the type of lentils used. But who cares!!!

Quinoa– One of the most talked about super food and so easy to prepare. Quinoa is my best bet when it comes to quick and healthy meal. Powerhouse of protein and essential nutrients ,Quinoa is a must have in every household . It is rich in fiber too. In my experience my metabolism gets fired up after eating Quinoa which is great for loosing those extra pounds effortlessly. Quinoa is a grain that is complete protein and consuming it keeps you fuller for a longer time.

Fresh seasonal vegetables

You know how much I love fresh vegetables right! I have used fresh seasonal vegetables like carrots , spinach , celery and tomatoes this time plus a generous amount of fresh lemon juice. Consuming vegetables is like free food meaning they are choke full of nutrition with very little carb and negligible fat.

Well you may make this diet soup without veggies but I don’t see a reason why not to add veggies. 

You may add frozen vegetables or add vegetables on hand that can stand the pressure cooking. Refer to my notes.

Spices

Adding spices to this soup not only elevates the flavor manifold but also does amazing things for your body. I have added some amazing spices to this  quinoa lentil detox soup. It just makes a boring soup all the more delicious !!!

Apart from salt and pepper include some cayenne in your diet. Start by adding little as everyone can’t handle the same amount of heat. Cayenne is a must have for a detox diet as it aids digestion. It helps regulate blood sugar level , increases metabolism , has anti inflammatory properties to relieve pain.

I have even used turmeric . Turmeric not only gives this beautiful golden color to this detox soup , it also has great healing properties. It fights cancer too. Coming from an Indian household we use turmeric in our everyday cooking. The entire world is raving about it now a days because of its benefits  so you should definitely give it a try if you haven’t done so yet.

This soup also has a generous amount of ginger and garlic which again does wonders to your body.

These spices play a key role in fighting seasonal allergies and strengthening your immune system too .

Quinoa + Lentil + Fresh veggies + Turmeric + Ginger + Garlic is a bomb combination for maintaining good health, skin and hair .

I love this soup for a number of reasons. This lentil quinoa detox soup is-

Super easy to make

One Pot meal

Vegan and Gluten free

Oil free

Complex carb ( Lower carbs than most of the meals out there)

Low fat

Nutrient dense

Protein rich

Fiber rich

Have healing properties

Full of flavors

A true pot of gold that you should make for yourself and your family.

I do not wish to lose weight , do I really need to make this soup?

You should definitely give this lentil quinoa vegetable detox soup a try even if you do not intend to loose weight . Because clean eating is the very first step to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your body will thank you for going detox! It needs a day off from all the processed foods that you consume.

Did I mention that my 6-year-old loves having a small cup of this soup as a snack!! This lentil quinoa cleansing soup is ideal for kids as well as adults.

This detox meal is ideal if you are on a vegan, soy free, dairy free , gluten-free , low carb , oil free , low-calorie diet.

Make a big batch in your instant pot/ stove top pressure cooker or in a large pot and enjoy it all week-long .

Why did I use Instant Pot to make this detox quinoa lentil vegetable soup?

Because I love dump meals. I like one pot one shot (OPOS) meals that require minimum preparation and no baby sitting. A meal that is good for me as well as my kids.

A meal that requires less after clean up. And that is what Instant Pot does. I made a big big batch with only 10 minutes of preparation time. Rest was done by my IP.

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4.17 from 43 votes

Lentil quinoa detox soup

A healthy and full of fiber detox soup that actually works to keep you in shape . This detox soup recipe is vegan , gluten free and oil free . Easy to make ahead of time and enjoy it as a meal anytime of the day . A guilt free clean eating recipe. Recipe

Course lunch/ dinner

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Adjustable Servings -12 cups

Calories 130kcal

Author Khushboo

Ingredients

• 1 cup golden lentil/ yellow moong dal*
• 1 cup quinoa *
• 5 carrots medium size
• 5 celery sticks
• 4 Roma tomatoes
• 8 cups water / vegetable broth
• 2 cups baby spinach chopped *
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 1.5 teaspoon turmeric*
• 2 tablespoon ginger grated
• 6 cloves garlic grated/ chopped/ paste
• 2 teaspoon cumin grounded
• 2-3 whole cloves optional
• 2 bay leaves optional
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 lemon freshly squeezed

Instructions

• Rinse and drain the lentils well 3 times under cold tap water.
• Wash quinoa according to the package if you aren’t using pre washed one.
• Dump everything called for except spinach in the pot.
• Start Instant pot Manual HIGH for 5 minutes.
• Turn the knob to SEALING . And NPR natural pressure release.
• Once the pin drops down carefully open the lid .
• At this point you can adjust the consistency of the soup .
• If you like it thin then add more stock/ water or enjoy it like a stew.
• Turn on the Instant Pot on Sauté mode and add spinach. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the spinach is wilted.
• Give a taste test and adjust spices if desired.
• Serve warm with freshly squeezed lemon.

Notes

For making on stove top pressure cooker-

Cook for 3 whistles for traditional stove top pressure cooker . Let the pressure release naturally.  You will need a big cooker- – at least 14- 15 cup cooker. If you are using small one then cut the recipe in half or quarter.

Storage-

This recipe makes around 10-12 cups of soup . You may cut the recipe into half or quarter if desired. I love to make a big batch so that we can enjoy it over the week.

Keeps well in the fridge for a week. Can be frozen in one time use portion size pouches. Do not re freeze once thawed.

Substitutes-

Use this recipe as a guideline. If you do not have certain spice mentioned simply omit or substitute with spices you have.

Skip cayenne or use 1/4 teaspoon at a time if you can't handle the heat.

If using turmeric for the first time use half of the quantity mentioned .

I have used Ancient Harvest pre washed Tri color Harmony Quinoa . Use your choice of Quinoa.

You may substitute golden lentils with red lentils too.

You may substitute Spinach with Kale or Swiss Chard. This recipe is oil free , but feel free to add tad oil to sauté ginger garlic if desired.

You may use vegetables like peas, sweet potato, bell peppers too.

If cutting the recipe into half or quarter , cook time in INSTANT POT will be 4 minutes on MANUAL HIGH.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 459mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 100.8% | Vitamin C: 9.3% | Calcium: 4.9% | Iron: 14.3%

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