2cupslentils (brown or green)picked over and rinsed
8cupsstockvegetable or chicken, low sodium
1bay leaf
½teaspoonthymedried
4-5leavesbasil fresh
½teaspoonred pepper flakesoptional
salt and pepper to taste
extra olive oil for drizzling
2tablespoonsparsley for topping
2tablespoonsgrated cheese for topping, optional
Instructions
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Lower the heat to medium, add the diced onions (1 medium), carrots (2 medium) and celery (2-3 stalks) and saute for about 10 minutes until soft.
Add the minced garlic and saute for a couple of minutes.
Increase heat to medium-high, add ½ cup of white wine and cook for an additional minute or so.
Add the rest of the ingredients. More specifically, the hand-crushed tomatoes (2 cups), the sorted and rinsed dried lentils (2 cups), and 8 cups of stock (vegetable or chicken).
Finally, add 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, 4-5 basil leaves and salt and pepper to taste. As an option, you can add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
Bring to a boil, cover slightly, lower heat and simmer for approximately 30-40 minutes or until lentils are soft. Adjust the consistency of the soup by adding water.
Taste and adjust seasonings.
Remove bay leaf.
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and garnish with chopped parsley and cheese.OPTIONAL: a squirt of lemon juice.
Notes
There is no need to soak these pulses as they cook in less than one hour.
Alwaysrinse and sort your lentils to ensure there are no impurities.
Dice the vegetables the same size so that they cook evenly and quickly.
The addition of parsley stems is a wonderful flavor enhancer in this dish.
This soup tastes better the day after it is made. If necessary, add a little bit of water and reheat.
Do you soak the lentils before cooking? No. The lentils take about 30 minutes to cook in the soup. How long does this soup keep? Refrigerate for up to 5 days. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months.Can I use canned lentils instead of dry? Yes, if you are in a hurry, using canned lentils will decrease the cooking time by 20 minutes or so. Do not rinse the lentils. Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.