Okay, so I’ve been meaning to try making lentil soup for ages, and today was finally the day. I found this recipe online that promised a quick and easy version, and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint. I started by gathering all my ingredients.
First, I grabbed some lentils, carrots, celery, onions, and garlic. You know, the usual suspects for a good soup base. I also pulled out some vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and my spice rack. For spices, I went with cumin, coriander, turmeric, and a bit of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
- 1 cup of green lentils, rinsed
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 can (14 oz) of diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 teaspoon of coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
I started by sautéing the onions, carrots, and celery in a big pot with a bit of olive oil. I cooked those down until they were nice and soft—probably around 5-7 minutes. Then, I tossed in the minced garlic and let it cook for another minute until it was fragrant. Man, I love the smell of cooking garlic.
Next, I added the lentils, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and all the spices to the pot. I gave it a good stir, brought it to a boil, and then reduced the heat to low. I covered the pot and let it simmer away for about 25 minutes, or until the lentils were tender. I didn’t add any salt or pepper until it was finished, just to make sure it wasn’t over salty.
Texture Time
Now, the recipe said you could blend it if you wanted a smooth soup, but I like mine a little chunky, so I just left it as is. And honestly, it was perfect. The lentils were cooked just right, the veggies were tender, and the broth was super flavorful. This recipe said it served 6, but let’s be real, it was so good, I think it was more like 4 for me and my family today.
I served it up with a dollop of plain yogurt and some chopped fresh cilantro on top. Seriously, this lentil soup was a total win. It was easy to make, tasted amazing, and it’s pretty darn healthy too. I’ll definitely be making this one again.
