Hearty Red Lentil Soup

It is soup season!!!  In New Orleans we're going straight from 80° to mid 40's this weekend. I am not thrilled because I hate cold but I love making stews and soups to keep warm. Here's my easy hearty red lentil soup recipe.

Ingredients

Cooking oil

4 cloves garlic

1 yellow onion 

1 lb red lentils

1 ltr water

2 large carrots

3 large red potatoes 

1 tbsp chopped cilantro or culantro

Salt and pepper

Prep -Dice onions, chop carrots, grate garlic, peel and chop potatoes. Rinse lentils in strainer.

Use whatever pot you normally do to make stews. Place pot on stove to medium high. Drizzle oil just to cover bottom. Pour in onions and summer until a little translucent. Add garlic and stir making sure not to burn. Pour in rinsed lentils with spices and stir. When you smell the spices pour in water and stir. Cover for 12 minutes, if the water has gone down add enough just to cover lentils. Scoop out a cup and a half of lentils into a blender. Do not blend while hot. Once cooled blend and strain contents back into pot. Add a cup of water and add vegetables, stir well. Check and sir to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom. Add herb and let boil until vegetables are cooked (about 7 minutes). Add salt and pepper to your liking. I like to eat it with oven toasted naan bread.

                                                                           Enjoy!