Spiced Vegetable Soup With Lentils And Roasted Chilli Food

SPICED VEGETABLE SOUP WITH LENTILS AND ROASTED CHILLI

Steps:

• Start by roasting 2 of the chillies. If you have a gas hob, put a wire rack over the flames and roast the chillies on top until blistered and black. If not, char them under a very hot grill. Keep turning the chillies so they colour evenly. This should take about 5 minutes. Put in a bowl, cover with cling film and leave to cool.
• While the chillies are roasting, start the soup. Gently heat 2 tbsp oil in a large saucepan and fry the onions for about 10 minutes until light golden brown. Remove half and set aside. Cook the onions left in the pan for 5 minutes more or until deep golden brown and crisp. (These are for sprinkling over at the end.) Remove from the pan and reserve.
• Pour the remaining tablespoon of oil into the pan and add the bay leaves and cumin seeds. Put the softened onions back in (that's the first set you took out of the pan), then add the garam masala, carrots, celery, garlic and lentils. Peel the charred skin off the roasted chillies, roughly chop (with or without the seeds - including them will make the soup more spicy), then add to the pan. Stir well and cook for 5 minutes before adding the hot stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 40 minutes or until the carrots and lentils have softened.
• Remove from the heat, take out the bay leaves, then whizz briefly using a stick blender - I like the soup to have some texture.
• Put it back on the heat and add the broccoli. After 2 minutes, stir in the spinach and turn off the heat. Add most of the lemon juice, then taste and adjust the seasoning. A recipe from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-From-Indian-Family-Kitchen/dp/1845339339 >Secrets from My Indian Family Kitchen by Anjali Pathak (£12.99; Mitchell Beazley)

SPICY LENTIL VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Cut the peppers in half from top to bottom; remove the stem, seeds, and ribs, then place the peppers cut-side-down onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until limp, 30 to 40 minutes. Turn the peppers over halfway through cooking. Once ready, place the peppers into a bowl, and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Allow the peppers to steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Once cool, remove the skins and discard. Chop the peppers
• Meanwhile, bring the water and lentils to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the carrot, onion, and broccoli; cook and stir until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in some of the vegetable broth, cover, and steam the vegetables until tender. Pour in the remaining vegetable broth and chopped peppers; season with the red pepper flakes, ginger, black pepper, thyme, and sage. Simmer until the flavors come together and the vegetables are very tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Add water if needed to maintain your desired consistency. Stir in the cooked lentils until hot.
• If desired, pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot.

SPICY LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, about 8 more minutes.
• Stir in tomato paste, crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper; mix in chicken stock and lentils.
• Bring soup to a boil and reduce heat to low; simmer until lentils are soft, about 20 minutes.

SPICED LENTIL AND ROASTED VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Cut tomatoes in half, peel and halve onions, halve peppers and deseed and take off stalk.
• Place above into roasting tray and place slices of garlic onto each piece of vegetable, sprinkle with olive and salt.
• Roast in medium oven for 30 - 40 mins until vegetables are slightly browned and tomatoes are very soft.
• Meanwhile sweat diced onion and celery in butter in a heavy pan for 5 minutes.
• Add nigella seeds, chilli pepper and cardamon, stir well and add chicken stock, then add lentils.
• Bring to a boil and then simmer, covered.
• When roasted vegetables are ready add contents of the roasting pan with juices to the soup pan and stir well.
• Simmer for 20 mins then season to taste with fresh black pepper and salt.
• Blend with a stick blender or in a processor, soup should retain a rough consistency but not big lumps.Add more water if necessary and reheat.
• Serve with a drizzle of good olive oil on top.

SPICY LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Wash and pick over lentils. Cover with water and leave to soak for 15 minutes.
• While lentils are soaking, prepare other ingredients for use.
• When everything is ready, drain lentils and set aside.
• Heat oil in a heavy saucepan. Sauté onion, garlic and ginger until onion is translucent.
• Stir in turmeric, cumin and chili powder, and sauté for about 1 minute.
• Add lentils, zucchini, carrot, vegetable stock, salt and pepper (if needed). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes (until vegetables are almost tender). Spoon off scum as needed.
• Add linguine pieces and simmer another 10-15 minutes (until pasta is al dente). I used only 1 ounce of linguine, but you could use more to add body to the soup.
• To serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with cilantro and a dollop of cream, sour cream or Neufchatel cheese.

RED LENTIL, CHICKPEA & CHILLI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan and dry-fry 2 tsp cumin seeds and a large pinch of chilli flakes for 1 min, or until they start to jump around the pan and release their aromas.
• Add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 chopped red onion, and cook for 5 mins.
• Stir in 140g red split lentils, 850ml vegetable stock or water and a 400g can tomatoes, then bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 mins until the lentils have softened.
• Whizz the soup with a stick blender or in a food processor until it is a rough purée, pour back into the pan and add a 200g can drained and rinsed chickpeas.
• Heat gently, season well and stir in a small bunch of chopped coriander, reserving a few leaves to serve. Finish with 4 tbsp 0% Greek yogurt and extra coriander leaves.