Red Lentil Soup

Red Lentil Soup

After spending the afternoon making cookies with Esme I looked at the clock and realized it was 5:15 and I had no plan for dinner. I looked in the fridge – celery, leeks, carrots and a pitiful, decaying red pepper – and realized there were no makings of dinner either. I started thinking of the dishes I’d order from our neighbourhood Chinese takeout place. When Julian was first born there were many, many nights I’d phone them with an order as I was picking up Esme from daycare and swing by on the way home.

Then I thought: lentils. Celery, leeks, carrots (threw the red pepper out) plus red lentils and stock equals soup.  I made this recipe a few weeks ago with green lentils and it ended up seeming more like a daal to me and I didn’t love it. But red lentils are fast cooking, softer and, I think, have a nicer flavour. I’d have preferred to use onions but leeks were in the fridge so there you go.

I made grilled cheese sandwiches to go with the soup. And Esme was thrilled we were having something that called for a little ketchup on her plate. After one bit of the soup Esme said, “I don’t care for this.” So. I wish she’d eat the soup but at least she was polite about it. Ben loved it and had two bowls

redlentil

photo by Leila Ashtari

 

Red Lentil Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 onion diced (or leek, washed very well and sliced in half length-wise and then chopped finely)
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • a splash of olive oil
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • 4 cups stock
  • a good squeeze of lemon juice

Method

Saute the vegetables in olive oil until they soften

Add the lentils and the stock and bring to a simmer.

Cook for about fifteen minutes stirring every once in awhile.

Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

 

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2 Comments

  1. Derbecker
    March 24, 23:25 Reply

    Tried it. One link of chorizo chopped fine doesn't hurt it at all, incidentally…

  2. Ceri
    March 25, 13:04 Reply

    Agreed. Love sausage with lentils. Actually, I have a great recipe for a lentil and sausage dish…. will post soon. Trying to do a bunch of vegetarian mains first but I'll get there! Thanks for checking us out.

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