Recipe: Damian’s Favorite Lentil Soup

November 4th, 2009 - filed under: The Food » Recipes

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I married a serious lentil lover. I think, if he could, Damian would eat this soup 3-5 nights a week. He requests it constantly, and lucky for him it’s an easy make. Unlike a lot of soups, this one comes together in well under an hour. It’s a super-hearty, super-healthy, and many many levels of delicious.


Ingredients:
2 ribs of celery
2 skinny carrots
1/2 yellow onion
2-4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil

1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon basil

1 cup green lentils
1 large tomato, diced
4 cups veggie broth or water, more as needed

handful fresh spinach
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste



Instructions:
Dice the veggies and sauté the mirepoix, garlic, and olive oil in the bottom of a soup pan. When onions are glassy, add the bay leaf and spices and continue to sauté another few minutes.

Add the lentils and stir them into the sautéing veggies. Keep stirring them around for about 2 minutes (add more oil if needed). Add the tomato and broth, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for an additional 20ish minutes, until lentils are tender.

Before serving, stir in the spinach and vinegar. Spice as you wish.

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Serve steaming in an old chipped mug, with a huge hunk of crusty bread.
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  • http://katehateseverything.blogspot.com Kate

    Aww, I remember that broken mug! miss you guys! xoxoxo

  • Sandra

    Seems delicious!

  • http://homegrowntexan.blogspot.com Homegrown Texan

    Sounds like a delicious and easy recipe, but I have to say the “serve in an old chipped mug” is my almost my favorite part! :)

  • Richard

    I’m more of a red lentil guy they turn all mushy though so I might try these green ones :)
    this finally got me inspired to make some Homemade stock/broth that you put the recipe up for. The results were a bit meh for me tbh, probably becuase I guessed the method and didn’t suate the garlic or cover the pot (doh), what do you do with the left over stock veggies? it seems a waste to throw them away.

  • Marcus

    This recipe looks very easy and good, but what is the ingredient after the garlic?

  • Julie

    You should submit this to WIC! Lentils are one of the foodstuffs given to all pregnant women and their kids and they are always looking for recipes to be dispersed to participants! Some of their recipes are ridiculous because they call for like 10 other expensive ingredients. This one is great- healthy, ethical and inexpensive!

  • http://www.salekdarling.livejournal.com/ Salekdarling

    I am totally making this dish over the weekend. :-)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Kate – I still use and love that mug! It’s the first one I ever bought when I moved out on my own a looooong time ago, ha! And we miss you too!!!

    @ Sandra – It is!

    @ Homegrown Texan – It’s the little things that make the meal, no? =)

    @ Richard – I always use old veggies that I wouldn’t be able to use up fresh (when I get caught with overstock), so it doesn’t feel like a waste. I compost the veggie mush when I’m done.

    Sautéing is important because it adds fat, which gives the broth that extra richness and depth.

    @ Marcus – Fixed! Thanks!

    @ Julie – Really? That’s awesome that they’re giving out lentils. I should totally submit my recipe! I’ll look into it, thanks lady.

    @ Salekdarling – Did you make it? How did it go??

  • http://loveladys@verizon.net Susie

    Made your recipe last weekend and we loved it, loved it, loved it! Thanks ever so.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Susie – Yay, I love hearing back when people make my recipes! I’m so glad it worked for you! =)

  • http://sweetness-light.tumblr.com Natasja

    Hi – do you use dried lentils for this recipe (I could only find canned ones?) and do you need to soak them beforehand?
    I am such an amateur :P
    x

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    @ Natasja – I used dried lentils, but I think you could use canned. I’ve never worked with canned but I’d assume they would be fine. You’d probably need to cook them for less time. Luck!

  • Tanya KidsAround

    The great receipe, I have to cook it for my husband – a big lover of lentils. Have you ever tried turkish red lentil Soup? For this dish you need water, red lentil, tomatoes and dry mint. Very tasty :)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Sounds delish! I’ll look up a recipe and give it a try. =)

  • Becca Manny

    Made this soup this afternoon & loved it! I also took your advice & enjoyed it with some crusty bread, but didn’t have the same authentic experience with a cracked mug. Thanks for sharing this!

  • Lisa

    I just made this and my 3-year old shoveled it in, gushing – “This soup is so very good, mama! I love the lentils, and I just really love the carrots.” I’m not a celery fan, so I left that out and upped the carrots and onion. I also added fresh mint at the end. YUM. This will definitely be in our recipe rotation as the weather cools. Thanks, Sayward!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Oh I LOVE hearing this! Yay, thanks for letting me know. Hooray for little healthy eaters!!! =D