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My version of the famous mulligatawny soup is much quicker and simpler. Made with leftover roast chicken or turkey this soup is perfect to repurpose those leftovers!
If you love Indian flavours, check out my Butter Chicken Recipe and Red Lentil Dahl.
I’ve been enjoying my recently discovered love for soups and it’s been fun to experiment with flavours. Don’t get me wrong I’ve been cooking soups since I was a teenager. After all I grew up in a Russian family but I never learned to truly appreciate soups until adulthood.
That might be because as an adult I started exploring different flavours and cuisines, which led me to so many delicious soup recipes from all over the world. This mulligatawny soup is one of them.
Mulligatawny soup recipe
Although considered an Indian soup by many, mulligatawny soup is part Indian, part British. This sort of fusion cuisine is certainly not unheard of, with tikka masala as a particularly famous example. This one was invented by Indian cooks when the British kept requesting soup as the first course during the colonial rule.
Of course, soup is not traditional to Indian cuisine and mulligatawny was developed from something else entirely. Originally it was just a thin sauce served over rice but over time got bulked up with vegetables and meat to accommodate the British taste.
The result is a slightly creamy soup, surprising as there is no dairy to be found. What isn’t surprising is aromatic, complex and mildly spicy soup. It’s comforting, wholesome and an amazingly satisfying meal.
Ingredients
This soup can take a lot ingredients as long as it’s got the non-negotiables.
- red split lentils (moong dal)
- traditional Indian spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic, cumin and coriander
- meat stock
- rice
There are of course hundreds of recipes for this delicious soup. Many of them blend the soup once it cooked and serve it over rice.
My version however, keeps the mulligatawny soup chunky with rice added to it.
How to make it
As you can imagine any soup recipe will benefit greatly if you start with a delicious tasting stock, which takes hours to make. We don’t always have hours.
So to make it easier and quicker I developed this recipe using leftover roast chicken and ready made stock. Another shortcut I used is a scoop of a curry paste with all the spices blended for me already. Instant flavour without the fuss.
Using my quick mulligatawny soup recipe you can have a delicious and filling meal in 30 minutes. You can also use your leftover turkey or chicken in a recipe that tastes completely different from where it started!
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Although the recipe calls for chicken breast, it also is a great use for leftover roast turkey and chicken.
- I keep frozen spinach around for recipes like this one. Just three cubes add a lot of colour and nutrition to the soup. Fresh spinach will also work and will add a beautifully vibrant green to the soup.
- Kale is another great option if you have some in the fridge.
- The same thing applies for any vegetables you might want to use up. Feel free to add them to the soup. Frugal and nutritious.
- Red lentils are commonly used for mulligatawny soup, but yellow lentils are a good substitute.
- Mulligatawny soup will become even more delicious on the following day but it might get too thick. In that case, just add a cup of chicken or vegetable stock to thin it out.
Serving suggestions
Some people add a dollop of plain yoghurt or cream to their bowl of mulligatawny soup but I prefer it without. I do enjoy adding a squeeze of lemon though, along with chopped parsley!
What I always add to a soup lunch is a hearty piece of chunky sourdough bread, although this recipe is perfect for flatbread or naan.
Storage and leftovers
Soup can be kept in the fridge for 4-5 days, or frozen for up to 3 months, in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container. This makes batch cooking a great option. Make some extra and keep it for whenever the urge for a warming soup hits you!
The rice in the soup has the tendency to soak up liquid as it sits, so you may need to add water or stock to keep it loose when reheating. Reheat by returning to a This is an affiliate link.saucepan and bringing to a boil, or in a microwave if a small amount.
More hearty soup recipes
- Slow Cooker Thai Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Yellow Split Pea and Ham Soup
- Restorative Beef and Cabbage Soup
- Chestnut and Squash Soup
- Harvest Minestrone
Mulligatawny Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil, or ghee
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp ginger , grated
- 1 tbsp prepared Indian curry paste, such as Madras Curry by Patak’s or similar
- 2 litres/8cups This is an affiliate link.chicken stock
- 200g/1 cup red split lentils
- 100g/1/2 cup This is an affiliate link.basmati rice
- 2 chicken breasts or equivalent amount dark meat, cooked
- 3 cubes/2/3 cup frozen spinach
- 1/2 lemon , juice of
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large soup pot and saute diced onion, carrot and celery over low heat for 5 minutes. The add minced garlic, grated ginger, the curry paste and cook for 30 seconds longer while stirring. Then add the chicken stock, red split lentils and rice, turn the heat up and bring to a boil.
- Once boiled cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. Then add cooked chicken diced into bite-sized pieces and frozen spinach. (No need to defrost first.) Cook for 5 -7 minutes until the lentils and rice are soft. Then squeeze the lemon juice directly into the soup and season with salt to taste.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
can you cook this in a slowcooker?
I haven’t tested the slow cooker method, so cannot recommend.
Beautiful soup, packed with veggies and protein. I made it exactly as written, but doubled it to feed my imaginary large family. We do like leftovers, though. Thank you for the recipe.
Absolutely love this recipe. I substitute sweet potato for the chicken, as I am vegetarian. It is such a filling, tasty soup. Thank you!
I’ve made this twice in the past 2 days, and both times it’s been great. I’ve made a couple of subs this batch: bell pepper for the carrot, and garam masala powder. I also used beef stock- all I had in the house- scallions, a couple of radishes and some frozen peas. It’s so tasty and easy to make and makes your house smell amazing. Great for batch cooking/meal prep too. Thank you Julia!
My pleasure, Sophie! So glad you enjoyed it.
This was delicious and much easier to make than most recipes for mulligitany!
The ginger and lemon flavors were our fav, plus it’s filling. Great with some naan or toasted sour dough bread. Will be making again thank you for this recipe❤️
My pleasure, Christine. So pleased you enjoyed it!
I’ve got this cooking now. I used Masuman curry paste, so it may not turn out the same flavor profile as the recipe intended. I was trying to be careful not to make it too spicy for one of my family members. But hopefully it will still be yummy, if a bit different from intended. I sauteed everything in the instant pot and now I’m cooking it in there for 15 minutes — long enough for the lentils to cook properly. I’m going to cook the rice separately. Trying to decide whether to garnish with green onion or with cilantro.
Made this today and it was amazing! It was thick and full of flavor. I used the green curry paste and seasoned with ginger, curry, tumeric,coriander. I would make this again!
It’s one of my favourite soups and so easy to make. So glad you liked it too, Staci!
I only have Thai curry pate. Would this work or should I use curry powder?
I have made this before and look forward to your easy recipe.
Hi Lori, I am afraid Thai curry paste will bring a completely different flavour to this soup. I would use curry powder.
Your recipe sounds wonderful, but I’m not familiar with spinach cubes, please explain what they are, and/or how to make them. Thanks!
Hi Lyn, frozen spinach cubes are simply how frozen spinach in sold in the UK. You can see me adding them to the soup in the video. Feel free to use any frozen or fresh spinach available to you.
“the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes:
Well, you certainly have done that young lady! This recipe looks good. Can’t stand the ones with apples in there, not sure where that came from. Probably from yuppies from the 90’s LOL. Someone said there that it would be good the next day, for sure that would be true. Lovely recipe dear!! You hit the nail on the head with this one
Thank you so much, Shannon. Very much appreciated!
Hi Julia – I am so anxious to try this recipe this weekend! Question about the rice and red lentils… Do they have to be cooked first or do they actually cook in the soup from dry? And does it have to be basmati rice or can I use jasmine rice that I have a lot of here at home?
Thanks so much!!
Both rice and lentils are cooked in the soup. You can definitely use Jasmine rice, Patty. Enjoy!!
Could i use any type of rice?
yes you can
Love this ❤️ I do it vegetarian and sometimes add sweet potato. Only suggestion is to maybe add more spice
Yes to more spice!! 🙂
Good. afternoon,
I. would like to make this soup but I am vegetarian. Is removing the meat without replacing it will be a problem? Suggestions? Thank you.
Lorraine
It shouldn’t be a problem taking the chicken out. There is plenty of flavour in this soup without it.
Fabulous soup! Great way to use left over chicken and so easy with pantry staples. My husband’s favorite thanks for sharing.
The only Indian Curry Paste I could get was medium. I’m wondering if it’s gonna be too spicy hot for my family. Any thoughts?
I really don’t think so, Barb. Medium is not too spicy to start with and it will be so diluted in the soup, so you will have the curry flavour but not much heat.
this looks AMAZING, can it be made with curry powder vs paste? I’m trying to use leftover roasted chicken up but without a trip to the grocery store. If it can, how much powder? I know it won’t come out exactly like yours but this sounds like it’s right up my alley! 🙂
Hi Shauna, I would start with 1-2 tbsp of curry powder and see how you like it!
This is the tastiest soup I have made in a long time,. It taste even better the following day. Just added a little more stick the following day. Yummy
I am so happy it turned out well for you, Hilda. This soup is such comfort food for me and my family!
Can you use green lentils instead of the red?
You absolutely can, Jean but bear in mind that green lentils take longer to cook.
Tried this recipe Friday 18/1/19, it was gorgeous, sooo tasty, we had it for 2 nights running. Will definitely be making this soup again. Only thing I would change is more curry paste next time. Thank you
Wonderful, Hilda. Thank you for sharing this with me! 🙂
Hi 😄I made your mulligatawny soup today with double portions of everything.It was absolutely delicious 😋 my husband loved it. My New Years resolution is to make 1 soup a week. If you have any more soup recipes like these please post. Thank you sooo much 😁
I am so happy to hear that, Bernadette. That’s what I’ve been doing too…one soup a week. It’s such a healthy and cheap way to eat! Here is the link to soups on my blog and if you stay around, they will keep coming. 🙂
My Dad loves mulligatawny soup but always buys it from the shop. I will have to treat him and make him your version. It looks so tasty!
Oh please do, Cat! I am curious what he’d think! 🙂
I never heard of mulligatawny soup before 😉 interesting and it looks so comforting, the color is amazing!
It’s a bit of a classic here in the UK and for a good reason!
Do you know this is the ONE soup I normally dislike because I have only ever had a store-bought version. Yours looks incredibly delicious and very ME. So I think I will have to make this and wipe the slate clean!
I am confident you’d like it, Lucy! It IS very you!! 🙂
Such glorious layers of colour and flavour. I haven’t had mulligatawny in such a long time but I remember it being deeply delicious. I’m sure this would be just as good as I recollect 🙂
Mulligatawny definitely makes an impression! I’ve been wanting to make it again and share with my readers because it’s perfect for cold weather. Filling yet light! It doesn’t leave you feeling stuffed. Thanks, Kellie!
What a gorgeous colour. I’ve made so many soups over the years but never a mulligatawny.
Thank you! It’s definitely a soup for a recipe box! So quick to make and so delicious and satisfying!