THE BEST INSTANT POT GREEK LENTIL SOUP RECIPE EVER (FAKES SOUPA)

This delicious, classic Greek lentil soup recipe will be your new family favourite! Vegetarian, hearty and healthy, and full of flavour – A traditional soup prepared in minutes with the Instant Pot!

We are so proud to share with you our recipe for the best Instant Pot Greek Lentil Soup Ever, also known as Fakes Soupa or Φακές Σούπα in Greek (pronounced Fah-kes Soup-ah), that will be your new favourite go-to soup recipe. Fakes Soupa or simply called, “fakes”, is the quintessential childhood favourite comfort food of all Greek households. The special thing about this dish is that unlike most comfort foods that are deliciously unhealthy or take all day to make, fakes is super healthy and takes very little time to prepare and cook. This is a genuine dump-and-go recipe. With the help of the Instant Pot, fakes will be in a bowl and ready for your tummy within 40 minutes from start to finish. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can make the same soup using the stovetop following The Best Greek Lentil Soup Recipe Ever.

Fakes is also economical and is made with ingredients easily found in your pantry year-round. Delicious, economical, and easy – another Greek classic dish that’s a winner all around.

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON TIKTOK

Tony’s Notes!

“I love lentil soup! It’s a meal for all seasons that Greeks of all ages love to eat. It’s a traditional, inexpensive, easy, and fast recipe but most of all it’s delicious. If you ask me what’s my favourite soup, I would say fakes in a heartbeat. Legumes, vegetables, olive oil, and for some, vinegar, is the epitome of the healthy Mediterranean diet in a dish.

The flavour of lentil soup travels me back in time to when I was a child. I remember my mother serving me the exact same Greek lentil soup recipe that I prepare for my children today. Her little secret of making it even yummier was to add little pieces of bread that made the soup thicker and shredded feta cheese that made it a little saltier and richer in flavour. Generations of Greek children have been raised eating fakes at least once per two weeks, not only because they were asking for it, but because it’s yummy and parents know how nutritious and healthy this soup is. Always smile and enjoy!”

Ingredients for The Best Instant Pot Greek Lentil Soup Recipe

• Lentils – brown dried lentils, they are the star of the soup!
• Carrot – adds a touch of sweetness
• Onion – red onion provides a nice balance between sweet and savoury
• Garlic – because doesn’t every good soup recipe require garlic?!
• Tomato – canned or fresh, the taste and consistency come out the same when cooked so use whatever is on hand, we usually use no-salt added diced canned tomatoes
• Tomato paste – to add a deep tomato-based flavour
• Bay leaves – provide a subtle earthy undertone layer
• Bouillon cube – enhances the savoury taste of the soup, vegetable or chicken bouillon
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – because practically every dish in Greek cuisine uses tons of it! It provides flavour, richness, and so many wonderful health benefits. Always opt for a good quality olive oil, ideally one from Greece

Preparation and Notes for Instant Pot Greek Lentil Soup

Fakes is an easy soup to prepare. It falls into my favourite category of Instant Pot cooking: Dump and Go recipes. The preparation for it takes less than 10 minutes. You dump all the ingredients in the pot, set the cooking timer, and go. It’s so easy, kids can make it. Seriously, my kids have been making it with me since they were toddlers. Other time-saving tips are to use diced canned tomatoes instead of a fresh tomato, and chopped frozen carrots and onion instead of fresh. The taste is the same as long as you use good-quality ingredients.

Cooking fakes in the Instant Pot is game-changing for time-saving because you don’t need to monitor it, as you would if you were to cook it on the stovetop.

Set the cooking time to 6 minutes if you will do a natural pressure release or 7 minutes for a quick pressure release. The texture of the lentils should be tender when cooked, but not mushy. Hard lentils aren’t pleasant to eat, so ensure they’re sufficiently cooked. Do not use canned or precooked lentils in this recipe because they’ll be too mushy. Red split lentils have a different taste and texture so it would be a different type of soup if you used them so they are not recommended for this recipe.

Dietary Lifestyle Information for Greek Lentil Soup

Fakes is a naturally vegetarian and vegan soup when using a vegan or vegetarian bouillon cube. Try it out on a Meat-Free Monday and it will become a new family favourite and a regular in your meal rotations.

This is a great recipe to try when introduced to the Mediterranean diet, which is naturally based on many vegetarian dishes. Legumes are an important part of a healthy and balanced diet. They can help reduce blood pressure and lower blood sugar when eaten on a regular basis. These little legumes are also high in iron, protein, and fibre, and low in calories.

Children who have sensitivities to smells or new textures can enjoy Greek lentil soup as there are no overpowering flavours. We started feeding this to our kids when they were babies (by omitting the salt and bouillon) and as soon as they’ve been able to communicate clearly they are always requesting it.

The soft texture of the lentils is perfect for people who suffer from dental or oral issues as it’s easy to eat. The high plant-based protein content and nutrient-rich elements in the lentils also makes fakes an excellent option for people who are recovering from illness or surgery. Try making a pot of fakes next time you have a cold as an alternative to the classic chicken noodle soup.

“Do I really need to use THAT much olive oil?”

To get the most authentic flavour – yes. Greek cooking is filled with massive amounts of olive oil, which seems extreme from a typical Western diet viewpoint. One of the reasons that the Mediterranean diet is world-renowned as being one of the most healthy cuisines on the planet is because of the abundance of extra virgin olive oil in the dishes. Extra virgin olive oil contains a high number of anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. The rich flavour and consistency adds another element to the soup and helps satisfy you without the need for meat. Cook one-half cup of olive oil in the soup, and add between 1/4 to 1/2 cup after cooking. The addition of fresh olive oil after the cooking process changes the texture and taste of the soup and adds a rich depth that is very fulfilling.

Optional Additions and Substitution Alternatives

In our opinion, this is the best Greek lentil soup recipe, delivering a classic and simple flavour that is rich and savoury. Many families have their own variations. 

A common addition to the soup is to add one finely diced celery stalk. It adds another layer of flavour that complements it nicely. Occasionally when I’m feeling fancy, I’ll add ½ of a finely diced red pepper. This adds a gourmet and a strong and fresh taste as well.

For the bouillon cubes, any flavour that you have on hand will do. I usually use vegetarian, but sometimes chicken. Broth is also a great substitute for water and bouillon.

Serving Suggestions for The Best Greek Lentil Soup Recipe

Greeks almost always add a splash of red wine vinegar when serving. I prefer mine without, but almost everyone I know adds this to their bowl. The tanginess of the vinegar complements the subtle savoury tones of the soup. Since the soup’s flavour is mild and subtle, a strong-tasting side is usually accompanied with it during serving. I often eat it with a can of smoked herring or mackerel (give me all the Omega-3 fats!). You can add a nice piece of fresh feta, either in a big chunk and take off pieces with every spoon, or as Tony’s mom used to make it, shred the feta and mix it in. To truly eat it Greek-style, take a piece of thick bread to eat with the soup and use it to scoop up anything leftover in your bowl.

ALLERGY INFORMATION FOR GREEK LENTIL SOUP

Our Greek Lentil Soup recipe is:

• Dairy-free
• Egg-free
• Nut-free
• Peanut-free
• Wheat-free
• Soy-free
• Sesame-free
• Fish-free
• Crustacean-free
• Celery-free
• Mustard-free

Always check food labels to ensure the ingredients comply with dietary needs. Some bouillon contains dairy and wheat. This can be substituted for soup salt or regular salt.

How To Store Greek Lentil Soup

Store leftover fakes soup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The soup will thicken when it’s stored overnight. You can add a bit of water when reheating the soup to help thin it out. Store fakes in an airtight, freezer-proof container when storing it in the freezer. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

TRY THESE DELICIOUS INSTANT POT GREEK SOUP RECIPES NEXT!

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

CLICK HERE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON TIKTOK

DON’T HAVE AN INSTANT POT? YOU CAN ENJOY THE SAME RECIPE ON STOVETOP WITH THE BEST GREEK LENTIL SOUP RECIPE EVER

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