LENTIL SOUP

LENTIL SOUP

Don’t settle for a bland Lentil Soup. Make it right and you’ll have everyone begging for seconds….and thirds! All it takes is a hint of spice flavourings, bay leaves and finishing it off with a touch of lemon. It makes all the difference!

Lentil Soup

Prep 10 mins

Cook 45 mins

Total 55 mins

Course: Mains, Soup

Servings: 6

Calories: 341 kcal

Author: Nagi@RecipeTin Eats

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped (white, brown, yellow)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large carrot, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 2 celery ribs, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 2 cups / 400g dried lentils, green (or brown), rinsed and drained
• 400g / 14 oz crushed tomato
• 1.5 litres / 1.5 quarts / 6 cups vegetable or chicken stock / broth
• 1/2 tsp each cumin and coriander powder
• 1 1/2 tsp paprika powder
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 1 lemon (zest + juice)
• Salt and pepper

To Serve

• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
• Warm bread, to serve

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 2 minutes.
2. Add celery and carrot. Cook for 7 - 10 minutes or until softened and the onion is sweet. Don't rush this step, it is key to the flavour base of the soup.
3. Add all remaining ingredients except the lemon and salt. Stir. 
4. Increase heat and bring to simmer. Scoop scum on the surface off and discard (do this again during cooking if required). Place lid on and turn heat down to medium low. Simmer for 35 - 40 minutes or until lentils are soft.
5. Thicken Soup: Using a stick blender, do 2 or 3 quick whizzes to thicken the soup (see video below). Or transfer 2 cups to a blender, let it cool slightly, then hold lid with tea towel and blend then transfer back into pot.
6. Add a touch of water if you want to adjust soup consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Grate over the zest of the lemon then add a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve with warm crusty bread slathered liberally with butter!

Notes

1. I really urge you to make this with dried lentils if you can. Better texture and flavour compared to canned. However, to make this with canned, use 2 x 400g/14oz cans of lentils (drained and rinsed) and reduce the broth by 1 cup. Simmer liquid for 20 minutes before adding the lentils then cook with lentils for another 15 minutes (don’t want to cook canned lentils for too longer otherwise they will turn into mush).

2. This freezes extremely well!

3. Nutrition per serving.

full recipe: https://www.recipetineats.com/lentil-soup