FLOATING IN DREAMS

A food I have only recently gotten into is lentil soup. I had been meaning to try it for ages, but the idea of lentils always put me off. They have a bit of an ‘image’ problem I think and I just didn’t think they could be tasty. But I read more and more about lentils on blogs and in cookbooks and I found out that possibly the best way to eat them is as a soup. I have now made lentil soup quite a few times and when I made another batch a while ago, I decided to document it for you.

The recipe you can find below is A way in which I make lentil soup. It is by no means THE way. I use a different type lentils every time and the other veggies I chuck in are also different every singe time. I just like changing it up. This week I hope to make a batch of green lentil soup and have bought some broccoli and fresh basil to compliment that. However, I think that if you want to make this yourself, I think that an onion, coriander, garlic and sweet potato are a great start to make your own batch of lentil soup.

Prep time: 15 mins. Cooking time: 30 -40 mins. Total time: 45 – 55 mins. Serves 4 – 6.

Ingredients:

• 250 grams lentils of your choice (I used mountain lentils for this one)
• vegetable stock cubes
• fresh coriander
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 red pointed peppers
• 1 – 3 chili peppers (add as many as you’d like)
• 1 medium sweet potato
• 2 onions
• coconut milk
• Dried cumin, thyme, parsley and extra coriander
• olive oil

Tools:

• Knife
• Cutting board
• Large pan
• A spoon for stirring 🙂
• A hand held blender

Preparation

Step 1: Chop up your veggies

Step 2: Add your garlic and olive oil to a hot pan and stir until the garlic has browned

Step 3: In the mean time, make your stock according to the instructions and wash your lentils

Step 4: Add your onion and stir until glazed looking.

Step 5: Add your sweet potato and stir until well combined

Step 6: Add your flavorings including the chillis and stir until well combined

Step 7: Add your peppers and make sure everything is cooking away nicely

Step 8: Add your lentils

Step 9: Add your stock and bring to a boil.

Step 10: Let boil as long as your lentil packaging instructs you to do.

Step 11: Add fresh coriander, leave some behind for garnishing

Step 12: Take out your blender and blend all the ingredients together

Now your soup is ready to be served! Add a swirl of coconut milk and a fresh sprig of coriander for decoration. This isn’t the best looking dish but trust me that it tastes delicious. It is truly a meal in itself so this is perfect as dinner or as lunch.

What is your favorite soup?