Hearty Lentil Vegetable Soup Food

LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.
• In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.

HEARTY VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute carrots, onions, celery and green pepper until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. , Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Remove bay leaf.

LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large soup pot over high heat and swirl in the olive oil. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Reduce the heat to low and saute until the vegetables are lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add the lentils, thyme, bay leaf, pepper, and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Add the broth and water, and bring to a boil, skimming and discarding any foam as it rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (The cooking time depends on the age of the dried lentils.) Stir in the vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If needed, thin the soup with additional water or broth for the desired consistency. Serve in a bowl topped with fresh croutons, if using.

BROWN LENTIL AND VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add carrots, celery and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.
• Add tomatoes, zucchini and stock to pan. Cover and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low.
• Simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
• Add lentils to soup. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.
• Sprinkle with parsley and squeeze lemon juice.
• Season with freshly ground black pepper.

HEARTY LENTIL SOUP WITH SPINACH - VEGETARIAN VERSION

Steps:

• Heat olive oil at medium-high heat.
• Add onions, carrots and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften (4-8 minutes).
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
• Stir in tomatoes, bay leaf and thyme; cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
• Stir in lentils, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until vegetables are softened and lentils have darkened *7-10 minutes).
• Uncover, add vegetable broth and water.
• Bring to a boil, cover partially, and reduce heat to low.
• Simmer until lentils are tender but not mushy (30-35 minutes).
• Discard bay leaf.
• Puree 3 cups soup in blender until smooth, then return puree to pot.
• Stir in spinach until wilted.
• Serve! (or place in plastic containers for work!).