Name: Healthy Red Lentil Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 cup lentils; 4 cups water; 3 bay leaves; 1 celery; 2 cloves garlic; 1 pinch salt; 1 pinch pepper; olive oil

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Lentil soup is a warm and delicious recipe perfect for winter nights due to its aromatic flavors. This vegan recipe is very healthy, light, and easy to make.

In my house, soups play one of the main roles. Be it a noodle soup, cheese creamy soup, or simple vegan lentil soup, they all have their roles in my kitchen. We have recently returned from skiing, and have observed that their dinner always starts with a warm and easy soup. My daughter also adores creamy soups and less the broths’ one. I always try to make at least one soup per week to diversify the meals and to lead a healthy way of life.

Lentil soup is a quick and easy recipe made vegetarian or with meat. My recipe is a vegetarian one, made of red lentils, onion, celery, and spices. This soup is so perfect for chilly winter evenings because I never make it in summer. Also, what I adore about this one-pot soup are the benefits the lentils have. It is a healthy and satisfying dish to always enjoy with some croutons.

What is lentil soup?

Lentils, very much resembling beans, are used in different dishes around the world, but one of the most famous and popular is the lentil soup. If you know how to make it correctly then you will preserve all the nutrients and benefits lentils have. Also, it is a famous protein-based small legume of different colors red, yellow, brown, and even black color cooked with or without the husk. Lentil soup originates from the Middle East but became very popular in the entire world. This soup has a thick consistency and has a pale yellow, orange color but different tastes depending on how you make it. For example, my husband adores spicy soups, so I try to make it chilly and with lots of herbs.

How to cook lentils?

If talking about soups, then the red lentils are one of the best that suits here. Red lentils are ideal here as they boil quicker and are easily mushy.

First of all, you have to rinse the lentils of the dirties that sometimes sneak in. Take a big pot pour water in it (the rule is simple 4cups of water goes to 1cup of lentils) and bring the pot to a boil. When the water is boiling, reduce the heat and let the lentils simmer about 20-30 minutes covered. There are times when the beans are tougher so I simmer them for the second time in another clean water just to make sure that the lentils are soft and could easily be mashed. While the lentil soup is simmering add some bay leaves, salt, and pepper.

Are lentils healthy?

Lentils are a good source of protein, low in calories, rich in vitamins and if cooked correctly they preserve all the nutrients. This healthy legume is packed with gut-friendly fiber, rich in iron and folate. Also, it contains a lot of nutrients that reduce some heart disease risk factors, as well as raises your energy levels. Summing up all this info I can firmly say that it is a healthy ingredient that has to be part of your menu.

How to make lentil soup?

For this best lentil soup, I have chosen the red legume. Firstly, I rinse the lentils and add them to a big soup pot filled with water and boil at high heat. When the water boils, I lower the heat at the lowest and let the lentils covered to simmer up to 20-30 minutes. In the pot, I add bay leaves, a pinch of salt, pepper and some chopped celery, optional. I add 2 minced cloves of garlic for a more pronounced taste, as we know that lentils have a natural earthy-like flavor.

In about 30 minutes, I try the lentils. If they are soft and have a nice aroma then the soup is ready. I use a blender to puree the soup, but you can serve it as it is. My daughter loves pureed cream soups, so I try to spoil her this way at least to make her eat it.

Garnish the lentil soup with some drops of olive oil, some greenies, baked bread or croutons.

What to serve with lentil soup?

I usually take some fresh baguette, slice them, grease with some garlic and bake for 5-7 minutes until soft on the inside but crunchy on the outside. Sometimes, I serve this soup with home-made croutons. Also, you can serve this soup without anything as it goes so perfect as it is.

Can you store lentil soup?

Lentil soup can easily be stored for up to 5 days, and frozen up to 1 month. You have to cool down the soup, cover it and set it in your fridge. When you want to serve it just pour some ladles of soup in a small pot and heat it. You don’t need to re-heat the whole amount you have made. This way you will save it for longer in your fridge.

Recipe tips:

Rinse the lentils well to avoid any bad ones or some dirties.
When the water boils, keep in mind to switch to the smallest burner on your stove to avoid over simmered lentils.
This soup can be made vegan or with meat.
You can garnish it with some slices of parmesan.

This lentil soup thickness naturally and is loaded with healthy veggies, nutrients, and one more great point here is that it is a budget-friendly recipe.