Step 1

Wash the lentils once or twice with clean water. Drain and keep it aside.

Step 2

Finely chop the onions, tomatoes, and other veggies if you use them.

Step 3

Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes into 1 to 1.5-inch cubes.

Step 4

Start Instant pot in saute mode.

Step 5

Once it is hot, add oil, chopped ginger, garlic, onions, and bay leaves.

Step 6

Saute the onions for a couple of minutes and add chopped tomatoes.

Step 7

Let the tomatoes soften a bit and add spice powders - turmeric powder, red chili powder, dried thyme, ground cumin, coriander powder, and salt. Stir everything well.

Step 8

Now add potato cubes, lentils and mix them once.

Step 9

To this potato lentils mixture, add water and give a good stir. You can check the salt at this stage and adjust it as required.

Step 10

Stop the Instant pot saute mode and close it with its lid. Then, seal the vent and start the instant pot again in manual or pressure cook mode. Cook it for 10 minutes on high pressure.

Step 11

Once the instant pot finishes cooking, wait for 10 minutes and manually release the pressure.

Step 12

To this lentil soup, add chopped kale and stir it well.

Step 13

Close the instant pot with its lid and let it sit for ten more minutes. The residual heat will cook the kale. Or you can start instant pot in saute mode and let it cook for a couple of more minutes.

Step 14

Absolutely delicious Instant pot lentil soup is ready to serve!

Step 15

Heat a thick-bottomed pot or Dutch oven.

Step 16

Add oil, bay leaf, finely chopped garlic, ginger, onions, and saute them for 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 17

To this sauteed onions, add finely chopped tomatoes and let them soften a bit.

Step 18

Add spice powders - ground cumin, coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, dried thyme, and salt to the tomato mixture and mix it well.

Step 19

Then goes the potato cubes, lentils and stir it well.

Step 20

Add water and cook the lentils over medium heat for around 30 to 35 minutes. Stir the soup in between for even cooking every 10 minutes or so.

Step 21

By this time, potatoes will also cook thoroughly. If not, you can simmer for a few more minutes.

Step 22

Now add chopped kale and simmer for a couple of more minutes. The hearty kale lentil potato soup is ready to serve!