Receta Spiced Lentil-Tomato Soup
I found this recipe in one of my many Cooking Light books. I've looked at it several times and always intended to make it but just never got to it until the other evening - and now I will probably use this recipe whenever I make lentil soup again! The spices in the soup are exactly the type that I like and you can adjust the heat to whatever temperature you prefer. The fresh tomato and cilantro topping it off is absolutely perfect. As a matter of fact, I can't wait to have this for lunch again today! Grumpy did enjoy this soup - I was a bit worried it might have too much heat for him (heartburn strikes him when he eats late and spicy) but apparently it worked for him too! His only comment was that he wasn't going to be well liked at work the next day. ;o)
Spiced Lentil-Tomato Soup
adapted from Cooking Light, September 2001
- I did change this a little bit so if you would like to see the original recipe you can find it at myrecipes.com
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2-14.5 ounce cans petite diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 cubes vegetable boullion
- 4 cans water (using the can the tomatoes came in for measurement)
- 2-1/2 cups dried lentils
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro (more is better!)
- Chopped fresh tomatoes
- Cilantro sprig
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until tender. Add the turmeric, cumin, chili pepper flakes, saute for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, water, vegetable boullion and lentils and simmer until lentils are tender. Stir in fresh cilantro near the end of the cooking process. You may need to add more water as the lentils cook. Serve garnished with chopped fresh tomatoes and cilantro
In the Cooking Light recipe the have you blend most of the soup to make it smooth. I just won't do that with lentil soup - I want my lentils whole! Hope you will enjoy!ur pureed soup into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with other half of remaining mixture. Stir in reserved 2 cups lentil mixture. Garnish with chopped tomatoes and a cilantro sprig, if desired.