Lentils cook quickly and are incredibly tasty. This hearty soup is nicely balanced with some simple vegetables. The lentils break down a bit during the cooking to give the soup a hearty consistency, but you can purée it if you prefer.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
2 cloves Garlic {minced}
½ Onion {chopped}
2 large Carrots {chopped}
2 Celery Stalks {chopped}
1 cup Red Lentils
1 Zucchini, chopped
Tomato Sauce, {2-4 tablespoons}
Paprika {2 teaspoons}
Cumin {1 teaspoon}
Salt & Pepper {to taste}
Vegetable Broth {1 quart}
Cannellini Beans, 1 can {rinsed & pureed}
Directions
Add olive oil to a large pot over medium heat and sauté garlic till fragrant, about 1 minute. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add carrots, celery and zucchini and cook until tender. Season the vegetables with cumin, paprika, salt & pepper. Add the lentils and toss to combine. Add a few tablespoons of tomato sauce or tomato paste. I just happened to have leftover tomato sauce from the night before. Add vegetable broth to cover and bring to a boil, reduce to simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, puree 1 can of rinsed cannellini beans in a mini food processor. You can add some vegetable broth to get it going. You can add the cannellini beans whole or omit them all together. I like to puree them and add them at the end. It thickens up the soup and makes it creamy.
{Optional}
If you like your soup to be thin, add more broth. For thicker soup, let the liquid reduce down. The soup is ready when the lentils are tender.
I also like to make this soup spicy. You can use any hot sauce or seasonings that you like. I like to make my own hot sauce. See below for the recipe. I add a teaspoon or so to my soup and mix right before eating!
Hot Sauce
1 Poblano Pepper {seeded & quartered}
3 Habanero Peppers {cut in half}
One tomato {quartered}
Olive Oil {1-2 teaspoons}
Salt and Pepper {to taste}
Toss in oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in a 425 degree oven until tender. Puree in a food processor.
I would love to hear from you! Please comment below or send me an email @ljanelli@hotmail.com
For more recipes, check out my food blog at Chef Laura at Home & Chef Laura at Home on Facebook.
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