How To Make Easy Lentil Soup

By Sandra Anderson


Very little is more satisfying than sitting down to a steaming hot bowl of great soup and salad. Most people tend to buy them premade at the store in a can. These are fine but not nearly as healthy or flavorful as making it from scratch. If you make it yourself, you can control the ingredients and know what you are getting. Learning to make easy lentil soup is one way to get a great meal without a ton of effort in cooking extra ingredients.

Most soups are healthy. The various lentils are even more so. They usually consist of several different vegetables mixed into a broth. They can also be made in vegan varieties. This is easily done because most recipes do not call for any meat to be added. The beans themselves provide a great source of protein for the diet. These are recommended for people with health issues that prevent them from digesting meats. It is also great for diabetics that need a healthier diet.

Lentils do not need to be soaked prior to cooking. There are many different types of beans that do need to be presoaked for hours before cooking them with the other ingredients, lentils do not fall into that category. It doesn't hurt them to be soaked if you want them to be even softer after cooking. Soaking them does make it easier to digest or if you plan on blending the mix when it is done.

Many different ways of making these types of soups exist. You can make them like a vegetable version with more broth and no thickening agents. You can also puree them with stewed tomatoes or other agents that will help thicken them into a nice stew. These are great for dipping grilled cheese sandwiches. Other versions can be enjoyed with other types of bread.

A lot of different ingredients can be added. Lentils are the basic form, but adding other vegetables enriches the flavor. Some will use things like chopped celery, diced carrots, onions, and include spices like oregano, a dry bay leaf, and basil for flavoring. Diced or stewed tomatoes are great to add because they thicken it up and add a great flavor to the mix. Spinach is also a great addition for the iron and other benefits that it offers.

Blending is an option. If you prefer a thicker version, you can take the warm dish and blend it. You need to be very careful since the liquid is hot and could easily burn you if it splatters. If you prefer the more chunky version, simply don't blend it. It'll be more like vegetable soup. This is a great version for adding oyster crackers or saltines to get a different flavor.

Side dishes enhance any meal. Soups go great with a nice, crispy fresh salad. Some will enjoy being able to dip Naan bread or cornbread into the dish. Crackers help thicken it and add a slight salt flavoring.

Most people enjoy one kind of soup or another. Using lentils as a base will provide a tasty and healthy base for any snack or meal. Including a side bread for dipping makes it filling and provides a nice rounded meal. There are lots of versions from green to brown to red that can be made in a thick stew or vegetable soup type of dish.




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