Identity Crisis Lentil Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, 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.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the white and light green scallion parts and cook until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the chicken, season with 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides. Stir in the cumin and 1/4 cup harissa to coat the chicken completely; cook 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, lentils and 4 1/2 cups water to the pot. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and the soup thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, wrap the pita in foil and place in the oven to warm, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons harissa and the lemon zest into the yogurt. Right before serving, stir the lemon juice into the soup.
• Divide the soup among bowls. Top with the yogurt mixture and dark green scallion parts; serve with the pita.

Steps:

• Peel and chop carrot and onion, chop celery.
• Heat butter in soup pot and add carrot, onion, celery.
• Cook, stirring until onion is transparent.
• Add bacon bones, lentils, undrained tomatoes.
• Crush tomatoes with a fork and add water and stock.
• Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat.
• Simmer 1 1/2 hours or until lentils are tender as desired.
• Remove and discard ham bones.
• Season with pepper and stir in parsley.

Steps:

• In a large pot, saute the onion and garlic.
• Add tomatoes and carrots.
• Add lentils and herbs. (Thyme works great alone too). Make sure you have small green lentils: sometimes the other types can get mealy.
• Add vegetable broth about 1 inch above lentils.
• Bring to a boil, then let simmer, stirring once in a while.
• When the lentils are soft and soup thick, you are done.
• Add salt/pepper or more herbs to taste.
• A splash of vinegar in your bowl on top of the soup is delicious! (French recipe suggested it, and it was great).