Arabic Lentil Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 2 cups dry lentils (yellow or orange lentils)
• 4 cups water
• 2 low-sodium chicken bouillon cubes
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 -2 bay leaf
• 3 -4 garlic cloves (to taste, or use garlic powder)
• 1 cup vegetable soup (carrefour root vegetable soup) (optional)
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin (to taste, start with 1 tsp and add more)

Recipe

• 1 rinse lentils well.
• 2 saute onions in large pot, adding carrots and garlic after onions have softened. cook until veggies are soft and aromatic.
• 3 add water, chicken (or veg) stock, bay leaf, and lentils to veggies. add vegetable soup if using. bring to a boil and simmer for at least 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. add 1 tsp cumin, stir in and taste, add more. i find the cumin flavor kind of disappears with long cooking so i usually add half in the beginning and half about 15-30 minutes before serving.
• 4 let cook on low for as long as you have time. flavor of soup improves with longer cooking.
• 5 blend soup in blender or with immersion blender until texture is mostly smooth.
• 6 serve with freshly ground black pepper, croutons and wedges of lemon to squeeze over the soup (essential!).