Greek Lentil Soup with Feta – Fakes

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This Greek Lentil soup is called ‘Fakes’ and it’s a staple ofΒ traditional Greek cuisine. And its deservingly achieved staple status.Β Fakes isΒ served with lots of olive oil(!), red wine vinegar, andΒ topped with feta; thereby elevatingΒ Lentil Soup to another level.

Greek Lentil Soup with Feta in a blue ball

The Best Greek Lentil Soup

So, my friend told me that her husband makes the best lentil soup ever – and typically she’s spot on. He’s Greek and has some pretty good recipes in his repertoire, like this amazing Greek Spinach Rice with Feta. I had beenΒ asking for this soup recipe for a really long time andΒ they finally consented to let itΒ goΒ public.

Recently, he called me and revealedΒ all his little secrets to make this Greek Lentil Soup with Feta outstanding. Keep reading….you won’t be disappointed.

Two bowls: blue and orange of Fakes (Greek Lentil Soup) with feta with spoon and chopped parsley on a side.

What is needed to make the best Greek Lentil Soup

First off, you can use any lentils you want. They differ in the time required toΒ cook, but you’ll be able to taste along the wayΒ and see if your lentils need more time or are done. I used green lentils, as I always buy them at my local Trader Joe’s.

If you want to make this soup creamier you could also use red lentils, as I did in this TomatoesΒ Red Lentil Coconut Soup.

Next, you’ll need someΒ good quality olive oil. As with most Mediterranean cuisines, this soup is cooked with a generous helping of olive oil.

TheΒ first secret that my friend disclosedΒ is that he uses just a Β bit of olive oil at the beginning to sautΓ© veggies, and the then he bookends it with LOTS of olive oil to drizzle once the soup is cooked. This way, as he put it, ‘you can really taste the amazing fresh taste of olive oil in your soup.’

How to Make Fakes (Greek Lentil Soup)

  • To start this Greek Lentil Soup, you’ll need to saute some onions, carrots, and potatoes in olive oil. Traditionally, the potato is not part of this soup, but he adds it toΒ give it another level of texture. And I love potatoes, so I was all in.
  • After the veggies saute for a couple of minutes, you can add rinsed lentils toΒ coatΒ themΒ with olive oil and veggie juices.
  • Following this comes the seasoning. According to my friend, you can get a little creative here. He adds a couple of spices that surprised me:Β some turmeric, and braceΒ yourself for this…a little bit of soy sauce. Who would have thought it…soy sauce in a Greek dish? I gave it a goΒ and absolutely loved it. Use your discretion on that one, but I think it really works.
  • Then you just add either water or veggie broth and let everybody cook together until veggies and lentils are soft.
  • Check for seasoning, and add some salt and pepper as required.
  • Now, time to stick the landing!Β You can either do it in the pot or once the soup is portioned out into the bowls – I choseΒ the latter. I added soup to the bowls and then drizzled it generously with olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar.
  • Then I added crumbled feta cheese and some parsley.

The finished product:Β UNBELIEVABLE! If you’re a lentil lover, you will want to make this Greek Lentil Soup with Feta all the time. I’m sure about that. Enjoy my friends.

Bowls of Greek lentils soup with feta with spoons on a side

Newest Greek Recipes to Try:

Fakes (Greek Lentil Soup) in two bowls

Here is your printable recipe:

greek-lentil-soup-2

Greek Lentil Soup with Feta - Fakes

This Greek Lentil soup is called 'Fakes' and it's a staple of traditional Greek cuisine. And its deservingly achieved staple status. Fakes is served with lots of olive oil(!), red wine vinegar, and topped with feta; thereby elevating Lentil Soup to another level.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Greek
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 373kcal
Author: Edyta

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil For sautΓ©ing veggies and about 1/2 to 1 tablespoon per serving (See note 1)
  • 1 Onion Medium yellow, chopped
  • 1 Potato Russet, peeled and cubed (See note 2)
  • 1 Carrot Medium, peeled and sliced
  • 2 cloves Garlic Chopped
  • 1 cup Lentils Rinsed (See note 3)
  • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce , 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon of coriander, 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano - all of these are optional (See note 4)
  • 5-6 cups Vegetable broth Or Water ( See note 5)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Red wine vinegar (about 1 teaspoon per serving) ( See note 6)
  • Crumbled feta (about 1 teaspoon per serving) ( See note 7)
  • Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the dutch oven or other heavy pot;
  • Add onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until translucent;
  • Add carrot and potato and saute for another 2 minutes;
  • Add garlic and cook for a minute;
  • Add rinsed lentils and let them cook for a minute;
  • Add spices as you wish (soy sauce, turmeric, coriander, dried oregano, salt, pepper);
  • Add 5 cups of water or vegetable broth;
  • Cook for about 30 minutes or until the lentils and vegetables are cooked, add water or broth if needed;
  • Check for seasoning, add salt and pepper if desired;
  • Once the soup is cooked, divide into soup bowls, add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to each soup, 1 teaspoon of red wine vinegar and 1 teaspoon of crumbled feta;
  • Add some chopped parsley for garnish;
  • You can also add a little bit of dried oregano (Greek would be best);
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

1. The secret to the amazing taste of this soup is a fresh extra virgin olive oil added once the soup is cooked.
2. Potato is optional as it is not traditionally part of the Greek soup but it adds texture and tastes great.
3. You can use any lentils you like; they differ in the time they cook but you can always taste them and see if they need more time.
4. All this seasoning is optional; you can use any spices you like.
5. I suggest starting with 5 cups of water or broth and adding more if the soup is too thick.
6. Red wine vinegar, as well as extra virgin olive oil, makes this soup so unique.
7. For the finish touches, you can add crumbled feta, parsley and/or dried oregano.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 1501mg | Potassium: 776mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3215IU | Vitamin C: 11.6mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 5.6mg
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16 Comments

  1. I love a good lentil soup, as it’s really filling and budget friendly too. I love the idea of adding feta to it.

  2. Hi Edtya,

    I made this soup recipe this afternoon and my husband and I just finished having a bowl. We both thought it was delicious, thank you again for another great recipe! Yummy on this cold snowy day in the Hudson Valley.

  3. 5 stars
    Hi Edtya,

    I made this soup recipe this afternoon and my husband and I just finished having a bowl. Very easy to put together. We both thought it was delicious, thank you again for another great recipe! I used red lentils from Trader Jo’s. Yummy on this cold snowy day in the Hudson Valley.

    1. Fantastic! I usually use the green lentils from Trader Joe’s for this soup but I do like the red lentils too. I’m happy you liked the recipe. Stay warm in Hudson Valley πŸ™‚

    1. 5 stars
      Hi Edyta
      We regularly make this soup, it’s a firm family favourite in our house! I have to make extra as the family turn up with tubs to take away!
      I also like to add celery when in season, it is also delicious.
      Thank you for sharing this recipe with us.

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