Alyas Grannys Lentil Soup Recipes

GRANNY FRASER'S LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Boil the water, add the stock cubes.
• Once they have dissolved, add the lentils and simmer.
• Whilst the lentils are simmering, chop the potatoes first and add to the lentils, then the carrots and lastly the leek.
• Cook until the vegetables are soft, usually 20-30 mins depending on the size of the veg.
• Variations-
• *add ham/bacon.
• *fry the leeks in butter before adding to the soup.
• *keep it chunky or whiz with a hand-held blender.
• Once pureed this soup freezes. To defrost simply cover the bottom of a pot with water, put the frozen soup in it and gently heat until the soup is warmed through.
• I always make double to freeze and it rarely sees the freezer.

LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper and saute until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices. Simmer until the juices evaporate a little and the tomatoes break down, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add the lentils and mix to coat. Add the broth and stir. Add the thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and simmer over low heat until the lentils are almost tender, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the pasta. Simmer until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with the Parmesan, drizzle with olive oil, and serve.

THE BEST LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrot, onion, celery and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are starting to caramelize and take on a dark brown color, 8 to 10 minutes (this step is important as it will add tons of flavor to your soup!).
• Stir in the tomato paste and garlic and cook, scraping up the brown bits, until the garlic is fragrant and slightly softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add in the lentils, stock, 4 cups water, thyme, bay leaf, oregano, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of black pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the lentils are softened with just a bit of bite, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaf. Puree 2 1/2 cups of the soup in a blender until smooth then stir back into the pot. Stir in the lemon juice and parsley. Ladle into bowls and garnish with more parsley.

OLD SKOOL LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Boil lentils and take off residue
• Add leek & carrots & simmer for half an hour
• Add potato & simmer for another half hour
• Add stock cubes & season to serve

ALYA'S GRANNY'S LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• chop onion and crush garlic, chop celery and carrots, courgettes and parsnips into smallish bits, sweat the whole lot in a pan until softish. (sorry, I cook by eye. recipes a bit useless). Make up some meatballs as you like them. Brown to seal. Place onto the vegetables. Add good amount of tomato puree, salt (not too much), mixed spice, turmeric, cayenne pepper to taste, ground pepper and pour in stock. For extra authenticity, crush and put in one dried lime. Two - three cups of red lentils. Simmer until lentils done and meatballs firm. Keep tasting.