Spinach And Lentil Soup With Cheese And Basil Food

TOMATO, BASIL, AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, saute the onions on medium-low until soft.
• Add the minced garlic and saute until fragrant, being careful not to brown it.
• Add the dried lentils, basil and oregano, paprika (to taste) and saute a little longer, until fragrant.
• Stir in the can of diced tomatoes and add water or chicken stock to cover the beans about 1 or so inches, depending on how thick you want the soup.
• Add brown sugar, red wine vinegar and carrot, if using.
• Boil the soup until the lentils have softened to a satisfactory texture. Add water/stock if necessary.
• Remove approximately 2 cups of soup and, using a handblender or foodprocessor, purify the soup. Add the sour cream to this mixture, stir until smooth and and return to main pot.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

SPINACH BASIL SOUP WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over low heat and saute the onion until soft, about 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic, saute another minute or two; mix in the drained spinach, basil and chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, approximately 10 minutes.
• Mix in the remaining ingredients.
• Heat and serve.

SPINACH, SWEET POTATO & LENTIL DHAL

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp sesame oil in a wide-based pan with a tight-fitting lid.
• Add 1 finely chopped red onion and cook over a low heat for 10 mins, stirring occasionally, until softened.
• Add 1 crushed garlic clove, a finely chopped thumb-sized piece of ginger and 1 finely chopped red chilli, cook for 1 min, then add 1½ tsp ground turmeric and 1½ tsp ground cumin and cook for 1 min more.
• Turn up the heat to medium, add 2 sweet potatoes, cut into even chunks, and stir everything together so the potato is coated in the spice mixture.
• Tip in 250g red split lentils, 600ml vegetable stock and some seasoning.
• Bring the liquid to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 20 mins until the lentils are tender and the potato is just holding its shape.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning, then gently stir in the 80g spinach. Once wilted, top with the 4 diagonally sliced spring onions and ½ small pack torn basil leaves to serve.
• Alternatively, allow to cool completely, then divide between airtight containers and store in the fridge for a healthy lunchbox.

GREEK LENTIL AND SPINACH SOUP WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a large, heavy soup pot, combine cleaned lentils, stock (or water), chili, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, oregano, basil, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat to very low and let simmer, partially covered, about 30 minutes.
• Add potatoes and spinach, cover again and let simmer another 15 minutes. Add the butternut squash. Cover again and let simmer while you do the next step.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the onion and sauté until it starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the celery and garlic and sauté another 3 minutes, stirring often. Add this mixture to the soup; deglaze the skillet with a little soup and add the pan contents to the pot. Add salt, taste for seasoning.
• Just before serving, add the lemon juice, stir well and taste again for seasoning. Serve hot with a lemon slice floating on top of each bowl of soup.

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!).

CREAMY LENTIL & SPINACH SOUP WITH BACON

Steps:

• Put the oil, onions, carrots and celery in a large saucepan, and cook for about 10 mins to soften.
• Stir in the lentils and pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, then turn down and simmer for 30-35 mins or until the lentils are soft, topping up with water if the mixture begins to dry out. Pop in the spinach and cook for a few mins more, until wilted. Blitz the soup until smooth, then stir through the cream and season. Keep the soup warm over a low heat.
• Heat a little oil in a non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add the bacon and fry until crisp and golden. Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with a little cream and crumble over the crispy bacon.

CURRIED SPINACH & LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and fry for 8 mins until soft and translucent. Stir in half the garlic, the chilli, cumin and curry powder and cook for 1 min more. Add the lentils and stock, then cover and simmer for 30 mins over a medium-low heat.
• Put the coriander, remaining oil and garlic, the cashews and lemon zest in a food processor and blitz with 1-2 tbsp water until semi-smooth. Spoon the chutney into a bowl and set aside.
• Stir the spinach into the soup and cook for 5 mins, or until wilted. Tip half the soup into a blender and blitz until smooth, then return this to the pan. Stir through lemon juice to taste.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and top with generous dollops of the cashew chutney.