Winter Lentil Soup Recipe 455

WINTER LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Place the lentils into a stockpot or a Dutch oven and add water to twice the depth of the lentils. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Drain and rinse lentils; return them to the pot.
• Add onion, celery, cabbage, tomatoes, chicken broth, carrots and garlic to the pot and season with salt, pepper, sugar, basil, thyme and curry. Cook, simmering for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until desired tenderness is achieved.

LENTIL SOUP WITH WINTER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place lentils in a large bowl. Add 2 1/2 cups water; let soak for 12 hours.
• Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, celeriac, leeks, and celery. Cook, stirring, until vegetables have softened and onions are translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Drain and rinse lentils; add to Dutch oven. Cook, stirring to combine, 2 to 3 minutes. Place thyme, garlic, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth; tie with kitchen twine to enclose. Add to skillet along with chicken stock. Place a parchment paper round over liquid and cook for 10 minutes. Season with salt and continue cooking until lentils are tender, about 5 minutes more.
• Transfer 1/3 of the soup mixture to the jar of a blender; blend until smooth, adding chicken stock, if necessary. Transfer blended soup back into Dutch-oven with remaining soup; stir to combine. Add spinach leaves, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, and drizzle with olive oil. Keep warm.
• Fill a large pot with water and add vinegar; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Gently crack eggs into pot, one at a time, and reduce heat to medium. Cook eggs for 3 minutes; using a slotted spoon, transfer cooked eggs to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Serve soup immediately topped with a poached egg.

VEGETARIAN WINTER LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Slice each leek in half lengthwise, then slice each half into 4 sections.
• Chop leeks into small pieces.
• Place chopped leeks into a bowl of cold water and swish around to remove any grit or soil.
• Drain well through a sieve.
• Remove stems from kale and discard.
• Stack leaves on top of one another and slice crosswise into 1/2 inch wide strips; set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, heat oil.
• Add leeks and cook for 3 minutes.
• Crush tomatoes and add to the saucepan and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add vegetable broth and water and bring to boil.
• Stir in kale strips, barley, carrot slices, sweet potato cubes, brown and green lentils, thyme, salt, pepper and basil.
• Simmer until barley and lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Spoon into individual soup bowls and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• This soup freezes well in zip-lok bags, or plastic containers. Omit the parmesan cheese if freezing.