Mahas Lentil Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Place lentils and kidney beans in a large bowl; cover with plenty of water. Soak for at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain.
• Cook lentils, kidney beans, 5 cups water, and salt in a pot over medium heat until tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Remove from heat and set aside. Keep the lentils, kidney beans, and any excess cooking water in the pot.
• Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook cumin seeds in the hot oil until they begin to pop, 1 to 2 minutes. Add cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cloves; cook until bay leaves turn brown, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low; add ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Stir to coat.
• Stir tomato puree into spice mixture; cook over medium heat until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add chili powder, coriander, and butter; cook and stir until butter is melted.
• Stir lentils, kidney beans and any leftover cooking water into tomato mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Stir fenugreek into lentil mixture. Cover saucepan and simmer until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Add cream and cook until heated through, 2 to 4 minutes.

Steps:

• In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, saute onions in 1/2 C oil until translucent.
• Add carrots and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add coriander, stir well to coat vegetables, and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Add lentils and stir well to coat.
• Add water to cover the ingredients by 3 inches (about 8 cups).
• Stir in cumin.
• Cook about 30 minutes, or until lentils are al dente (softened but not completely cooked).
• Season with approximately 1 Tbs. salt.
• Add Swiss chard and cook about 10 minutes.
• Remove 1 cup of broth and whisk in flour, then whisk back into soup pot.
• In a saute pan over medium-high heat, cook pasta in 1 Tbs. oil until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
• Add pasta to soup and cook about 8 minutes.
• Ladle into bowls and squeeze about 1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice over each serving. Serve with pita chips or unseasoned croutons.