New York Times Red Lentil Soup Food

RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy soup pot over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes, and add the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the cumin, coriander, and curry powder. Stir together for about a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and stir in the tomatoes with their juice. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly. Add salt to taste.
• Stir in the lentils and water or chicken stock. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue to simmer for 15 to 30 minutes, until the lentils have fallen apart and thickened the soup. Using the back of your spoon, mash the lentils against the side of the pot to thicken the soup further. Add the pepper, taste, and add cayenne if you want more spice. Taste and adjust salt. Stir in the lime juice.
• If you wish, puree with an immersion blender or in batches in a blender, holding a towel over the lid to prevent hot soup from splashing out, and return to the pot. Heat through and serve, topping each bowl with a dollop of yogurt and a generous sprinkling of chopped cilantro.

CURRIED RED LENTIL SOUP WITH TOASTED COCONUT

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and the carrot, and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the garlic and ginger, and cook 1 minute more, adding a small drizzle of olive oil and lowering the heat if necessary to make sure they don't burn. Stir in the curry powder, turmeric and ground coriander and cook for about 30 seconds more until fragrant.
• Add the lentils and vegetable stock, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded and the lentils are soft and cooked through, about 30 minutes. If you prefer your soup looser, add in 1/2 to 1 cup more water and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer until heated through.
• While the soup simmers, heat a medium skillet over low heat. Toast the coconut flakes, stirring frequently, until they are lightly golden and fragrant, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Taste the soup and adjust seasonings. Serve in bowls and pass the coconut flakes at the table. If desired, serve with bowls of cilantro, scallions and lime wedges at the table.

LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a deep saucepan. Add the onions and garlic. Cook briefly, stirring, until wilted. Do not brown.
• Add the lentils, rice, broth, water, salt, pepper, bay leaf and thyme. Simmer for 30 minutes. Scoop out 1 cup of the lentils, rice and broth and set aside.
• Remove and discard bay leaf. Put the remaining soup through a food processor or food mill and process until fine. This may have to be done in two or more operations.
• Return the soup to the pan and add the reserved cup. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Adjust the seasonings. Sprinkle with the chervil or parsley. Serve hot with croutons.

RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Combine lentils and bay leaf with 5 cups water, and bring to a boil, partly covered. Cook lentils at a simmer until soft, 10 to 12 minutes; watch carefully so that they do not boil over.
• With food processor running, put garlic through feed tube to mince.
• Chop whole onion by pulsing in food processor.
• In a nonstick skillet, heat oil until it is very hot. Add onion and garlic, and reduce heat to medium-high. Saute until onion begins to brown and soften.
• Slice whole carrots in food processor; slice celery in food processor. Add carrots and celery to onions, and continue cooking until vegetables begin to soften.
• Add rosemary, hot pepper flakes, tomatoes and vinegar, and continue cooking at a simmer while you finish preparing the rest of the meal.
• Grate cheese and sprinkle on bread slices. Toast or broil in toaster oven until cheese melts.
• When lentils are cooked, drain, reserving cooking liquid. Discard bay leaf. Puree half of the lentils in the food processor. (You may need a little of the cooking liquid to puree.) Add the pureed lentils and the whole lentils to the tomato mixture, along with enough of the cooking liquid to make a thick soup. Heat through, and season with salt and pepper. Serve soup with bread

RED LENTIL SOUP WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over high heat until hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until golden, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in tomato paste, cumin, salt, black pepper and chili powder or cayenne, and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
• Add broth, 2 cups water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partially cover pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary.
• Using an immersion or regular blender or a food processor, purée half the soup then add it back to pot. Soup should be somewhat chunky.
• Reheat soup if necessary, then stir in lemon juice and cilantro. Serve soup drizzled with good olive oil and dusted lightly with chili powder if desired.

EASIEST LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Stir in onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook until onions start to brown at the edges, stirring frequently, 6 to 9 minutes.
• Stir in stock, lentils, thyme and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until lentils are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs.
• Stir in garlic, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and use an immersion blender to purée the soup to the desired consistency, keeping it chunky or making it smooth. (Alternatively, ladle it into a blender and blend in batches.) Stir in vinegar, then taste and add more salt and vinegar if needed.
• In a small bowl, toss radicchio, if using, and parsley with a drizzle of oil and a sprinkle of salt. To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with a small mound of radicchio and parsley, and/or any other garnishes you like.