Garlicky Lentil Soup Food

MIDDLE EASTERN LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pan and gently fry the chopped onions for 5 minutes.
• Add the chopped garlic, turmeric and cumin and continue cooking for a few minutes more.
• Stir in the lentils, add the stock and cook for 35 minutes. Stir several times during cooking, especially towards the end, to prevent lentils from sticking to base of pan.
• Toss in parsley, stir in lemon juice and leave to cook for 2-3 minutes more.
• No blending is necessary unless you want it really smooth.
• Serve with chunks of crusty bread.

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.

TAKE-OUT LENTIL SOUP WITH GARLIC AND CUMIN

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot set over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 6 minutes, until the onions become translucent. Add the cumin and continue to cook for another minute.
• Add the lentils, stock, salt and pepper, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the lentils have broken down. Add water if the soup needs thinning.
• Stir in the lemon juice, taste, and reseason if necessary.
• Ladle into soup bowls and drizzle with olive oil to serve.
• Tip: There are many varieties of lentils: red, green, yellow, and black. Although green is the easiest to find, any variety works well in this soup.
• Make ahead: This soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator.

GARLIC LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Put the lentils, onions, garlic, carrot, oil, bay leaves, marjoram or oregano and stock into a large saucepan.
• Bring to the boil and then simmer gently for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Remove bay leaves and add the red wine vinegar as well as the salt and pepper to taste.
• You can thin the soup out if you like with a little stock or water before serving.
• To freeze: Freeze in a rigid container.
• To reheat: Thaw and heat through.

LENTIL SOUP WITH GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• To prepare the soup:
• In a large pot bring the stock to the boil, add the lentils bring to the boil and simmer gently while preparing the rest of the vegetables. (lentils are high in protein so once they boil some scum might gather on the surface of stock, just remove it with a spoon)
• While lentils are simmering, finely chop the onions. Heat the oil in a pan, fry the onions until soft and add to the lentils.
• Peel the remaining vegetables, grate on a coarse grater and add to the pot. Allow all to simmer till the lentils soften (1 hour from originally bringing the lentils to the boiling)
• Once lentils are soft add the tomato puree, pressed garlic, and the marjoram. Leave to simmer for further 10 minutes, add salt and pepper to taste. Serve garnished with parsley. Best served with garlic bread
• To prepare the bread:
• Cut the petit pains lengthwise through the middle without cutting through the crust on one side to leave them closed. Bake the rolls following instructions on packaging. Once out of the oven they'll open easily. Turn on the grill to medium heat and while it preheats spread butter on the hot rolls, place slices of garlic evenly on the melted butter, cover with cheese and grill till cheese is melted to your liking. While hot sprinkle with parsley so it melts into the cheese and enjoy with your soup.

ITALIAN GREEN LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Add the lentils to a large saucepan and cover with 5cm/2in water. Cook over a medium heat, you don't want to boil the lentils, for about 20 minutes. To test if the lentils are cooked crush one between your fingers, it should feel creamy not starchy. Season the lentils with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large saucepan and add the oil. Add the onions and cook over a medium heat until soft and golden.
• Add the garlic and basil stalks. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Once the dish starts smelling strongly of garlic add the chopped tomatoes.
• Add the lentils and stock and stir. Leave to cook for 5 minutes for all the flavours to marry.
• Season with salt and pepper and ladle the soup into bowls. Top with grated pecorino cheese (if using), basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.

GARLICKY LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Slice garlic. In a 2-quart saucepan bring water to a boil with garlic, lentils, and thyme and simmer until lentils are tender, about 25 minutes. In a blender coarsely pur e mixture (use caution when blending hot liquids) and return to pan. Stir in parsley, salt, and pepper to taste and bring soup to a simmer.
• Serve soup drizzled with oil and vinegar.