Warm and Comforting Winter Lentil Soup (With Potatoes!)
Winter Lentil Soup is a fortifying and nutritious main dish, perfect to enjoy during the cold winter days for any family lunch or dinner. It is a classic comfort food very tasty, suitable for both vegetarian and vegan guests that, completed with a few slices of toasted bread and a side of seasonal vegetables, can also become an excellent side dish.
Making it is extremely easy: make a mirepoix of celery, carrots and onion, add the dried lentils and the potatoes cut into cubes, pour in the hot water, flavor with the celery and cook everything together with a few spoonfuls of tomato puree. Finally, adjust the salt and pepper and serve the soup on individual plates, with a drizzle of raw oil and a sprig of rosemary.
Excellent hot and freshly prepared, this soup, among the most versatile and easy to serve at the table, is also delicious lukewarm: it is therefore suitable to be taken with you to the office, perhaps enriched with a generous sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese.
What is Lentil Soup?
Lentil soup is one of the oldest known dishes, with a history that traces back thousands of years to ancient civilizations in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. Lentils, one of the first crops to be domesticated, were a staple in diets as early as 9,000 years ago. This humble legume became a vital source of nutrition due to its hardiness and high protein content. In ancient Egypt, lentil soup was considered a meal for both the wealthy and the laboring classes, often associated with sustenance and comfort. It later spread through Europe and Asia via trade routes, evolving into various regional versions. Today, lentil soup remains a symbol of simplicity and warmth, celebrated for its versatility and deep cultural significance across the globe.
Pro Tips for The Best Lentil Soup
- Since the soup relies on simple, earthy flavors, fresh vegetables like celery, carrots, and onions make all the difference. Go for the freshest produce you can find to elevate the dish.
- Add salt and spices in stages. Lentils absorb flavors as they cook, so seasoning early and adjusting at the end ensures a perfectly balanced taste.
- Allow the soup to simmer gently. Slow cooking helps meld the flavors and tenderize the lentils for that rich, comforting taste.
- Lentil soup tastes even better the next day, as the flavors have time to develop further. Make it ahead of time for an even more delicious bowl!
Is Lentil Soup Really Good For You?
Lentil soup is incredibly good for you! Packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients like iron, potassium, and folate, it’s a nutritional powerhouse. Lentils are low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, making the soup filling and excellent for sustained energy. The vegetables often included add vitamins and antioxidants, while the lack of heavy creams or fats keeps it heart-healthy. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and can easily be made vegan, making it a great choice for various diets.
What Does Lentil Soup Taste Like?
Lentil soup has a hearty, comforting flavor similar to a well-seasoned vegetable stew. The lentils create a creamy texture as they cook, while the combination of vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions adds a slightly sweet and savory depth. It’s a bit like a rich minestrone or split pea soup but with a milder, more delicate taste that absorbs the spices and herbs you add. It’s warming and satisfying, like a cozy homemade broth with a touch more substance!
What Are The Best Type of Lentils for This Soup?
Opt for green or brown lentils for this recipe, as they hold their shape well during cooking, adding a hearty texture to the soup. Avoid red lentils if you want a chunkier consistency, as they tend to break down more.
Do I Have to Soak The Lentils Before Making This Soup?
If you want to make them more digestible, yes, it's highly advices: you can soak them in cold water for 7-8 hours before cooking, so preferably, overnight!
Can I Used Already Cooked Lentils for This Soup?
Of course! Make sure to choose pre-cooked lentils stored in glass jars or excellent quality.
What Else Can I Add to This Soup?
You can add porcini mushrooms, fresh or dried, for a more autumnal touch, replace the potatoes with diced pumpkin and use sage or juniper berries instead of bay leaves. Once cooked, you can enrich the soup with grated cheese, nutritional yeast flakes or even strips of speck or bacon, browned in a separate pan, to create a tasty contrast.
Can I Freeze Lentil Soup?
Of course you can! You can freeze it for up to 2-3 months. When ready to consume, let it thaw slowly in the refrigerator, before heating it up!
How to Store Lentil Soup
Lentil soup can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly closed in an airtight container, for up to 2 days.
Ingredients
How to Make Lentil Soup
Clean and finely chop a carrot, a stick of celery and a white onion.
Clean and finely chop a carrot, a stick of celery and a white onion.
Transfer the vegetables to a large pan, add the extra virgin olive oil and let it fry for a few minutes.
Transfer the vegetables to a large pan, add the extra virgin olive oil and let it fry for a few minutes.
At this point, add the previously washed and drained dried lentils and also add the potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes.
At this point, add the previously washed and drained dried lentils and also add the potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes.
Flavor with a bay leaf and pour 1 liter of water, then bring everything to the boil over medium-high heat.
Flavor with a bay leaf and pour 1 liter of water, then bring everything to the boil over medium-high heat.
Complete with tomato puree, cover with a lid and let the soup cook over low heat for 35-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Complete with tomato puree, cover with a lid and let the soup cook over low heat for 35-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once cooked, when the lentils are tender and the potatoes are slightly flaked, add the salt.
Once cooked, when the lentils are tender and the potatoes are slightly flaked, add the salt.
Finally, spice to taste with a little freshly ground black pepper.
Finally, spice to taste with a little freshly ground black pepper.
Serve the soup with a fresh drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprig of rosemary. Enjoy!
Serve the soup with a fresh drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprig of rosemary. Enjoy!
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