Fakes Soupa (Greek Lentil Soup)

Fakes soupa is a traditional Greek lentil soup that makes an excellent comfort food for a cold day. Fakes is naturally vegan and very cheap to make, while being super nutritious and tasty at the same time.

Fakes soup is one of the best naturally vegan dishes to come out of Greece. It's made using very simple ingredients, but it's delicious and healthy, too.

Since it's a lentil-based soup, fakes will make you feel full for a long time. Lentils are not only rich in protein and fiber, but also very tasty, so this Greek lentil soup is a real treat indeed.

You don't need to soak the lentils overnight to make this soup - all you have to do is give them a quick rinse and they can go straight into the pot.

There are many variations for fakes soupa out there, with some featuring celery, peppers or red wine vinegar.

My version keeps things as simple as possible without compromising on flavour. I like to serve it with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on top and some crusty bread on the side.

Ingredients and substitutions

Olive oil - Just like in the case of so many other Greek recipes, quality extra virgin olive oil makes all the difference.

You'll need quite a bit of oil for fakes, but the flavor is so worth it. This is not the kind of recipe where you can substitute the oil with stock or water.

Olive oil is an essential ingredient here and you shouldn't use anything else instead.

Onions - Red onions are perfect for fakes, but you can substitute them with brown onions if you want.

Carrot - One medium carrot, which is the equivalent of a cup of diced carrot, is enough for this soup. You can also add some diced celery if you want.

Garlic - Some fakes recipes call for garlic and some don't. I like it with garlic and find that two large cloves are enough. You can definitely adjust the amount of garlic you use to suit your taste.

Red chilli flakes - This is optional and will give fakes just a bit of a kick.

Tomato paste - Double concentrated tomato paste is best for fakes, but you can also use passata or tomato sauce instead. Chopped tomatoes are another option.

Lentils - You can use green or brown lentils for fakes. You don't have to pre-soak your lentils before cooking.

It's important to pick through them to remove any debris and then give them a quick rinse.

How do you make fakes soupa?

Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven and saute the onion and carrot for 7-8 minutes over medium heat until they soften a bit.

Stir in the garlic, red chilli flakes and bay leaves and continue to cook for another minute until fragrant.

Next, stir in the tomato paste and cook for a further minute, stirring occasionally.

Add the red vinegar, lentils and stock to the pot, stir to combine and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 40-45 minutes or until the lentils are cooked to your liking.

Season to taste and serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or red vinegar on top, if you like.

Recipe notes and tips

• Fakes soup is often served with a drizzle of red vinegar on top. That's because the acidic element brings out the flavour of the lentils. You can also use some balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.
• Fakes can be served both hot and cold.
• The soup will keep well in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can easily reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.
• Fakes freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw the soup in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• If you like a regional lentil soup, the Spanish version is worth a go too - sopa de lentejas is smoky rather than vinegary.

If you liked this fakes soup, you might also like some of my other easy vegan soup recipes:

• Vegan Avgolemono Soup (Greek Lemon Orzo Soup)
• Easy Vegan Potato Soup
• Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup
• Tuscan Minestrone Soup with Orzo
• Cannellini Bean and Cavolo Nero Soup

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