Granny Frasers Lentil Soup Food

LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 2 minutes.
• Add celery and carrot. Cook for 7 - 10 minutes or until softened and the onion is sweet. Don't rush this step, it is key to the flavour base of the soup.
• Add all remaining ingredients except the lemon and salt. Stir.
• Increase heat and bring to simmer. Scoop scum on the surface off and discard (do this again during cooking if required). Place lid on and turn heat down to medium low. Simmer for 35 - 40 minutes or until lentils are soft.
• Remove bay leaves.
• Thicken Soup: Using a stick blender, do 2 or 3 quick whizzes to thicken the soup (see video below). Or transfer 2 cups to a blender, let it cool slightly, then hold lid with tea towel and blend then transfer back into pot.
• Add a touch of water if you want to adjust soup consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Grate over the zest of the lemon then add a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve with warm crusty bread slathered liberally with butter!

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.