Lentil Soup

2016-02-04 - Lentil Soup-1

I took advantage of the gift of quiet and snowy days in early January to pull out some cookbooks I collected many years ago. One of my treasured favourites is the Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen. It contains a recipe for lentil soup that is described as gentle. It is, indeed, simple and gentle . . . and delicious!

There’s something comforting about a pot of soup simmering on the stove on a winter day. I like to put a pot of this soup on, adapted from the Moosewood recipe, at mid-morning so it’s ready in time for lunch.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups lentils, rinsed
  • 1 quart of homemade vegetable stock (if you don’t have any stock on hand you can just use water)
  • 3 cups water
  • 6-8 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 medium to large onion, chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 1 quart canned stewed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Basil, to taste. You can use 1 tsp of dried but I find dried basil to be relatively tasteless. I used a chunk of basil from my garden that I chopped and froze in olive oil last summer.
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Place rinsed lentils, water, stock, and salt in pot. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer very gently for 20-30 minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients and continue simmering for another 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve hot. I like to drizzle a bit of balsamic vinegar over mine; Gerry chooses not to.

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I’m a writer, reader, and creative. I thought by now I’d have things figured out, but I keep coming up with more questions. I think that’s okay. I’m here most mornings pondering ordinary things and the thin places where faith intersects.
6 comments
  1. I love Lentil Soup!

  2. This sounds delicious, Linda. I plan to make it this week. Thanks so much.

  3. Lentil soup is the best. I could have it every day. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Julie. I agree–lentil soup is the best!

  4. Love the gentle wholesome simplicity of your ‘still life’. And thank-you for your recipe – it’s very close to the one I learned from my Mum except for the tomatoes, so it’s nice to find a variation. Ah yes, soup on a cold day – perfect!

  5. Thanks for the recipe, Londa. Sounds delicious and I plan on making it soon!

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