Indian Mulligatawny Soup

Indian Mulligatawny Soup is a creamy, curry-flavored soup, chock full of protein from chicken and lentils, vegetables, and warm spices. This soup is like a warm hug in a bowl, perfect for cold winter evenings.

Green bowl of Indian Mulligawtawny Soup garnished with chopped parsley with lime wedges on the side. Top view.

This soup is so satisfying and surprising in flavor. Don’t let the long list of ingredients scare you. The recipe takes only 25 minutes to toss together, and then the pot simmers to complete perfection!

I like to serve the soup alongside a cool, crunchy Fennel and Orange Salad with a Champagne Vinaigrette and a creamy Key Lime Custard. It’s a satisfying, full-flavored meal that won’t weigh you down or make you feel sluggish.

What Ingredients Are Needed?

  • Butter – adds richness and flavor. You could use olive oil for a lighter version.
  • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – Using thighs ensures the meat will be flavorful and very tender. You could also use chicken tenders, chopped into ½ inch cubes, for a lighter version. Using chicken tenders may result in a soup with more shredded chicken.
  • Onions, celery, carrots, and leeks – all aromatics for flavor.
  • Apples – Use your favorite firm, sweet, and flavorful apple. You don’t want the apples to turn to mush. Granny Smith, Braeburn, Empire, and Gala are all great choices.
  • Eggplant – Italian Eggplant, which is long, cylindrical, and deep purple, is the best, but the standard American eggplant is fine.
  • Ginger root – fresh or the paste in a tube sold in your produce section.
  • All-purpose flour
  • Curry powder
  • Ground cumin
  • Garam Masala
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg – I like grating my own from a whole pod, but you can also use ground. Whole nutmeg lasts longer in your pantry. Use a microplane to grate it directly into the pot.
  • Ground thyme
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Chicken stock 
  • Basmati rice
  • Red lentils
  • Granulated sugar – used to enhance the flavors. You could omit it, but the flavors will be slightly dulled.
  • Canned coconut milk – don’t use the coconut milk sold in cartons. You want the canned. You could use lite, regular, or even coconut cream.
  • Fresh limes – used to brighten the flavors of the dish
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh parsley – for flavor and garnish.
Green bowl of Indian Mulligawtawny Soup garnished with chopped parsley with lime wedges on the side. Top closeup view.

Steps To Make This Recipe

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and cook the chicken until no longer pink.
  2. Add the vegetables and sweat until just beginning to soften.
  3. Sprinkle the flour and spices over the chicken and vegetables. Cook till fragrant.
  4. Pour in the chicken stock, rice, lentils, and sugar.
  5. Simmer for two hours.
  6. Pour in the coconut milk and lime juice.
  7. Simmer 30 minutes.
  8. Season with salt and pepper.
  9. Serve garnished with parsley.
Green bowl of Indian Mulligawtawny Soup garnished with chopped parsley with lime wedges on the side. Side view.

More Soup Recipes To Try

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Indian Mulligatawny Soup

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Indian Mulligatawny Soup is a creamy, curry-flavored soup, chock full of protein from chicken and lentils, vegetables, and warm spices. This soup is like a warm hug in a bowl, perfect for cold winter evenings.

  • Author: Millie Johnson
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner

Ingredients

Scale

4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter

1 pound (about 6) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ½ inch cubes

1 medium onion, diced small

2 celery stalks, diced small

2 medium carrots, diced small

1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced

2 large apples, peeled, cored, diced small

½ eggplant, peeled, small dice

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons mild curry powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon Garam Masala

½ teaspoon cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

⅛ teaspoon ground thyme

⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (more to taste)

8 cups chicken stock

¼ cup basmati rice

½ cup dry red lentils

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 (13.5-ounce) canned coconut milk

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh, chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. 

Add the chicken and cook, stirring often, until the chicken has turned opaque on all sides.

Add the onions, celery, carrots, leeks, apple, eggplant, and ginger. 

Cook until the onions are translucent and the vegetables are beginning to soften.

Sprinkle the flour over the chicken and vegetables and toss to coat the mixture with the flour.

Add the curry powder, cumin powder, Garam Masala, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, and red pepper flakes.

Stir until the spices are incorporated, then allow the spices to toast for a minute until very fragrant.

Pour in the chicken stock and stir well.

Add the rice, lentils, and sugar.

Reduce the heat to low.

Cover the pot and simmer for one hour.

Pour in the coconut milk and lime juice.

Recover the pot and simmer another 30 minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat.

Taste and adjust for salt and pepper.

Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with chopped parsley.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 354
  • Sugar: 16.9 g
  • Sodium: 693.5 mg
  • Fat: 16.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 39.5 g
  • Fiber: 5.2 g
  • Protein: 14.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg