Lentil Spinach Soup with Lemon

 

https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/lentil-spinach-soup-with-lemon/

Servings     4 servings

Prep Time  5 minutes

Cook Time   40 minutes

A light, healthy and flavorful take on lentil soup with spices, greens and fresh lemon juice.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 whole onion, diced
• 1 whole carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 quart low sodium vegetable stock (if not vegetarian, you can substitute chicken stock)
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/4 cups brown, green or red lentils, rinsed and sorted
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups fresh spinach leaves (or substitute kale, swiss chard, or another favorite green)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (or can substitute parsley-- I prefer the flavor of cilantro here)
• 1 whole lemon

Recipe Notes

You will also need: soup pot, immersion blender, lemon squeezer

Instructions

1. Heat up the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and carrot. Sauté until the onion softens and starts to turn golden. Add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes longer until fragrant.
2. Add the tomato paste, cumin, cayenne, salt and black pepper. Stir and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
3. Add the vegetable stock, water, lentils and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer then cover the pot, slightly vented. Let the soup cook for about 30 minutes until the lentils are soft.
4. Remove soup from heat, remove the bay leaf and discard. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup halfway, so that it thickens but still has texture.
5. Put soup over medium heat again. Add the fresh spinach leaves and cilantro. Stir the greens into the soup for 1-2 minutes until just wilted (covering the pot will wilt them faster).
6. Turn off the heat and stir in fresh lemon juice to taste. Adjust seasonings if desired, and serve.