Sunday Slow Soupers # 15 - Lentil Soup

Week 15 of soup or soup exploration . . . AKA the week Kim forced me to eat a lentil for the first time in my life. In the interest of proper bibliographical credit it must be pointed out that this recipe is from Kim's mother actually. Like all good recipes from mom or grandma it is simple to throw together and uses ingredients that aren't exotic (therefore no need for a $ 95 shopping trip to Wholefoods).

There are lots of recipes for lentil soup out there. many call for soaking those lentils overnight and other 'exhausting' steps. Not this one. Dump everything in pot and cook. That is it. Really, does it get any easier than this?

I discovered that lentil soup has been around for years. Lentil soup is mentioned in the Bible (not that I have ever read it): In Genesis 25:34, Esau is prepared to give up his birthright for a pot of fragrant red lentil soup (a "mess of pottage") being cooked by his brother, Jacob. The ancient Greek playwright, Aristophanes, mentions lentil soup in his plays and describes it as the "sweetest of delicacies."

Lentil soup was once a food for the poor. Today, it is recognized as highly nutritious and provides a good source of protein, fiber, iron and potassium.

There you go - good, healthy, easy to make soup.

Oh yes, Kim, thanks for breaking my 44 years without ever eating a lentil 'run'. It was a good run but like all good things, had to come to an end.

Enjoy

 

Lentil Soup

Recipe By :Kim's Mom

1 Cup Lentils
4 1/2 Cups Chicken broth/stock (I use the fat free stuff)
2 1/2 sprigs parsley -- snipped
1 bay leaf
12 ounces tomato -- crushed (I use canned)
2 stalks celery -- chopped
2 sticks carrot -- sliced
1 onion -- chopped
2 cloves garlic - minced
1 teaspoon thyme (dried)

1. cook until vegetables are tender, 1 1/2 - 2 hours

Seriously, that's how my mother gave it to me. But basically, she just throws it all into a pot, brings to a boil and then lets it simmer. I often double it and freeze it.

Note - because I have an aversion to following recipes as printed . . . I sauteed the celery, carrots, onion, and garlic in olive oil until softened. I dumped in the lentils to coat them and then followed the recipe as printed. :-)

Comments

[María I.]

I can’t believe you never ate even one lentil until now! Amazing. ;) I love lentil soup and my recipe is similar to this one but my family likes it with a ham hock (naturally smoked, no nitrates).

[Cindy Ruth]

I'm glad you finally tried lentils. I find it hard to believe you never had them before. Are there other food items you've never tried that you're hiding from us?

[Candi]

Oh, Jerry, I am glad you finally tried lentil, it is very good for you.
And you know, lentil is still the food for the poor in Palestine, you would be amazed at all the recipes that uses lentil in them.
Great post, and your soup looks great.

[Ordinary Biscuit]

Your soup makes me hungry. :-)

[Marcia]

So do you think it coincidence that we were making lentil soup as Lent began this week?

[annie]

Very interesting - I did not know that lentils were in the Bible! I'm glad you tried them and like them. I've got a great cold but spicy lentil salad recipe that I make sometimes.

[JDeQ]

Well I am a lentil convert now. Annie - do you share your lentil salad recipe?

[Annie]

Yes, I'll be happy to share. I'll have to find it first then I'll get it to you.

[JDeQ]

Thanks for shraing Annie - I can't wait to make that one.