Monday, March 15, 2010

Lentil Soup

After reading a lot of blog posts about lentils and lentil soup, I finally decided that it was time for me to try it. I made this lentil soup for the first time and it turned out very delicious. All the flavors in the soup were unique and amazing. Not to mention how healthy it is... :) My husband hates onions so instead of onions, I used chunks of garlic cloves and they were actually really good in the soup!

Lentil Soup 
Adapted and changed from Food Network

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion (I omitted this but instead used 4 cloves of peeled garlic)
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound lentils, rinsed
1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
2 quarts vegetable broth
1 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
1 teaspoon freshly ground toasted cumin

Directions:

Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion (or garlic cloves), carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes.

Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately.



48 comments:

  1. I am having a bowl of white bean soup and reading this post. I wish I could have more lentils but it gives me tummy problems :(

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  2. I love lentil soup. I don't usually add coriander, I like that idea. Think I'll "steal" that next time i make some!

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  3. I too have been wanting to try lentils. I have a bag in my cupboard just waiting to be used. Pretty sure it'll end up as this soup!

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  4. This is one of my favorite soups to make and pretty easy to make. Yours turned out absolutely beautiful. I am never without lentils in my pantry. They also go really well with chunks of potatoes and red beans made like a curry.

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  5. I've had lentil soup once and I really liked it. Your soup looks really good..

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  6. Thats lovely soup Sook! Try oven roasted garlic next time, the flavour is out of this world.

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  7. Lentil soup is always a favorite. :D Your soup looks gorgeous with the spices and tomatoes.

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  8. Shirley,
    Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely roast garlic next time. :)

    Carla and Michael,
    I'd love to learn how to make curry with lentils! :)

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  9. Yum. I am happy every time I see lentil soup on the blog list, and yours looks so delicious!

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  10. Sook, looove this recipe bcoz it is so reminiscent of Indian food...I cook lentils w/veggies or without almost very week...great post!

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  11. Oops, that was me...clicked too fast :-P

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  12. I need to try this. I don't use lentils a lot, but have been reading about them all over the place! Maybe it's a sign...

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  13. Hi, lentil soup looks delicious and really healthy, love your picture too...

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  14. very heathy, Sook.. power house of protien!

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  15. Hi

    Your Soup looks very healthy and must be protein rich. Would try it out very soon.

    Deepa

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  16. This is a totally healthy and comforting soup!

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  17. Love your version of Lentil soup. You won't believe it when I say this -- I had lentil soup the day when I found out I was pregnant. I was puking and couldn't stomach anything. That was the day I stopped eating whole lentils. I still haven't warmed to it. Yours looks tempting enough for me to try.

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  18. i love lentil soup and i love your pics.
    There is a deli by my office that makes a tomato based lentil soup that is sooo good... i think i ate it for a month straight! yum!

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  19. Wow, this looks really good. I love lentil soup. Still have some in the freezer, come to think of it...I love how you've used coriander and cumin. Wow, what yummy flavors!

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  20. Lovely, pictures Sook. I wish you lived down the block! This was exactly the way my mom cooked lentils (sans the cumin). If you are looking to substitute for the onions, how would scallions do, or are they too "onioney"? Mom also used to occasionally slice hot dogs into her soup.

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  21. Sook,

    Lentil soup looks really yummy. Garlic cloveis helpful while having lentil soup

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  22. Delicious lentil Soup!!!! Love the clicks and that garlic on top looks really tempting:)

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  23. Fantastic pictures. I would have a hard time to cook for someone who doesn't care for onions; poor you!
    Rita

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  24. How can anybody hate onions? hehe. The soups looks delicious.

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  25. Sage and Ben,

    Could you please say that to my husband? :)

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  26. Cool Lassie,
    Aw, you poor thing. I know how pregnancy changes your appetite. I was also puking everyday for four months. It wasn't fun. I used to LOVE orange juice and now I can't even look at it. I could only have it when it is used as an ingredient. :)

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  27. My girlfriend isn't an onion fan so I feel your pain. Heh, I love that you just subbed it out with garlic. That's just awesome. :D

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  28. Lentil soup is one of my favorite comfort foods, and I love garlic too so this sounds great!

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  29. Looks delicious and healthy. I would love it with some crusty bread.

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  30. Very healthy and hearty. My daughter loves all things lentils.

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  31. I just bought lentils to make soup - yours looks great.

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  32. Great dish. Simple, healthy, and delicious. Nice work.

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  33. You are doing a great job finding flavorful and healthy recipes. I love your lentil soup!

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  34. This soup looks delicious! I have yet to make lentil soup, maybe I need to, after reading this recipe.

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  35. Lentils soup sounds so wonderfully delicious and very healthy!

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  36. Hi dear, thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see you soon again. Have a nice day

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  37. This is such comfort food! :)

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  38. Your lentil soup looks quite tasty & fab!!!

    MMMMMMMMM,...real comfort & good for you soup!

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  39. I like lentil soup but always prefer others to make it for me :)

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  40. oh what a great combo of flavors and so healthy! I wish I could have a bowl today!

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  41. Yumm , I love lentils , nice photo

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  42. I have only recently discovered lentils and they are good so I'm interested in new ways to prepare them. This recipe looks delicious and one that I will save to my stash of must makes. Thank you for sharing.

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  43. Great recipe - lentils are so flexible, you can't go wrong.

    One of my faves, and SUPER easy - simmer lentils in water to desired doneness, add pesto to taste, and enjoy!

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