Lemony Lentil Soup Recipe 45

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook until the onion has turned golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon of chili powder. Cook and stir 2 minutes more until the spices are fragrant.
• Stir in the chicken broth, lentils, and carrot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 30 minutes.
• Pour half of the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot. Do not puree all of the soup, leave it a little chunky.
• Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro, then season to taste with salt. Drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of chili powder to serve.

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, celery, and carrots until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add water, lentils, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, salt, coriander, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; stir to incorporate. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 hours.
• Whisk butter and flour together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; stir constantly until thickened and paste-like, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes, until light brown, about 20 more minutes. Whisk flour paste into finished soup, a spoonful at a time, until smooth and creamy. Serve with lemon wedges, 2 tablespoons parsley, and a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper.

Steps:

• Place the water and lentils in a 5 quart pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leek and sauté for a few minutes until it begins to brown. Add the eggplant and 1/2 tsp of salt and sauté for a few minutes, until eggplant begins to soften. Add tomato and cook for a few more minutes, until vegetables become saucy.
• Once lentils are just tender, add the saucy veggies, remaining salt, chard or spinach, zaatar, paprika, cumin, bouillon cubes, and lemon zest to the pot. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Stir in the lemon juice and garlic, ladle into bowls, and serve with lemon slices to garnish.

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over high heat until hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until golden, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in tomato paste, cumin, salt, black pepper and chili powder or cayenne, and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
• Add broth, 2 cups water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partially cover pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary.
• Using an immersion or regular blender or a food processor, purée half the soup then add it back to pot. Soup should be somewhat chunky.
• Reheat soup if necessary, then stir in lemon juice and cilantro. Serve soup drizzled with good olive oil and dusted lightly with chili powder if desired.

Steps:

• Rinse and drain chard.
• Cut off and discard thickest part of stems,then stack leaves and cut cross-wise into 1/2-inch wide strips.
• Set aside.
• Coarsely chop cilantro and set aside.
• Rinse lentils, then drain.
• In a 5-quart pan, bring lentils, 7 cups water and bouillon to boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat and cover, simmering for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in small iron skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add onion and garlic.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden (15-20 minutes), adding finely chopped cilantro during the last
• five minutes of cooking.
• Set aside.
• Add potato to the lentil mixture and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in onion mixture and chard and continue simmering until veggies and lentils are tender to bite.
• Stir in salt, pepper, cumin, and lemon juice.
• If desired, thin soup with 1 cup more water.
• Makes 6 servings.