Red Lentil Soup Recipe
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Category: |
Category: |
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Ingredients: |
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large carrot, diced
2 large ribs celery, diced
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
1 cup red lentils
4 cups water or low-sodium broth
1 whole bay leaf
2 tablespoons lemon juice from 1/2 large lemon
Olive oil, yogurt, or other topping, to serve.
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Directions: |
Directions:In a medium (2- to 3-quart) saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrot, celery, onion, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; stir to combine; and then cover and let the vegetables sweat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add the lentils, water or broth, and bay leaf. Bring up to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and let simmer, covered, until the lentils begin to fall apart, about 20 minutes.
Turn off the heat, stir in the lemon juice, and add salt to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve. Leftovers will keep refrigerated for 5 days.
Recipe Notes
To perk up the soup just before serving, top it with a drizzle of peppery olive oil, a dollop of plain yogurt, a sprinkle of sumac, or a spoonful of gremolata.
This recipe is pared down to just the basics — you can certainly add a teaspoon of garam masala, Italian herbs, or any other seasoning blend to spice things up a bit if you like. Just add the spices in along with the lentils and broth. |
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Number Of
Servings: |
Number Of
Servings:4 |
Personal
Notes: |
Personal
Notes: Red lentils are perfect for weeknights, or whenever you're in a hurry to get a meal on the table. Due to how they're processed, de-husked, and split before packaging, they cook up quicker than any other variety of legumes, although they are slightly lower in fiber than the larger whole varieties. Also note that while they're a lovely salmon pink in the package, their color changes as they cook, fading to a golden-yellow hue as they melt into a soup, stew, or curry.
But their speediness is so appreciated. A half-hour is all it takes to go from stovetop to table, and much of that time is unattended.
While the soup is simmering, you've got some time to figure out what to serve alongside it. I often pair lentil soup with crusty bread, toasting it with a drizzle of olive oil and some shredded Parmesan cheese if I'm feeling indulgent. Slice your bread thick enough to tear off nice big hunks — perfect for dunking and swiping up the last few drops of soup.
As a finishing touch, consider topping your bowls with a swirl of peppery olive oil, a dollop of tangy yogurt, or, my personal favorite, gremolata. This simple combination of chopped garlic, parsley, and lemon zest gives the soup a punch of freshness and brightens up the bowl.
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