Friday, March 25, 2011

Mixed Lentil Soup

Here is a hearty winter soup just before the start of spring. Mixed lentils can be bought at any food store.  It is both pretty and healthy at once and you don't want to miss that combination.  Lentils, beans and barley! As much as it is good to look at, they make a tasty protein rich fare. The benefits continue. They freeze well and also keeps in the refrigerator for at least three or four days. If you are planning to make a big batch, like I have done, then make sure you separate the soup into smaller containers, cool and then refrigerate or freeze.

Mixed Lentil Soup

I like this soup because of all the above reasons and also because they are not too cumbersome to prepare. I agree that the the cooking time can be a little much, but preparation (chopping, peeling etc) and the time you need to stand by the stove is considerably less. I hope you will enjoy this soup as much I did.

Lentils

Dunk in some toasted French bread for more fun. You deserve some carbohydrates when you are good enough to eat only a lentil soup. Right?

Mixed Lentil Soup

Ingredients: (Serves 8)

Mixed Lentils - 1 1/2 cups (Soak overnight)
Onions           - 1 big chopped
Garlic            -  4 - 5 cloves
Chili Powder - 1 tspn
Cajun Seasonings - 1 tspn
Oregano       - 1 tspn
Basil             - a dash
Bell Pepper  - 1 chopped
Tomato in garlic and onion - 14 oz (blend to make small chunks)
Parsley - to garnish
Yogurt - to garnish
Lime or Lemon Wedges - to garnish
French Bread or garlic bread to go with the soup

Method:

1. Pressure cook the soaked lentils with 1/2 tspn of salt and 4 cups of water.  Wait for one whistle and shut off the fire/heat.  Set aside until all pressure has been released.
2. In a large pot saute onions followed with garlic until the onions are translucent.
3. Add all the spices. Chili powder, Cajun seasoning and oregano and saute for a minute.  Add the chopped bell pepper and saute for 2 minutes
4. Add the crushed tomatoes, stir and cook for 2 minutes.  .
5. Add about 6 cups of water and bring to a boil.
6. Add the pressure cooked lentils in and cook for about 45 minutes.
7. Soups are always better when it cooks a while on the stove.  Therefore, simmer for as long as possible.  If you need the soup to be thin after it has cooked through add boiling water and bring the soup to a boil again.
8. Serve into soup bowls and top with a small scoop of plain yogurt and finely chopped parsley.  You may also use lime wedges instead of the yogurt.

Contributor: Sunitha

43 comments:

  1. Soup looks super inviting. it may be spring but it still feels like winter. It snowed yesterday and I still have some on the deck. That doesn't sound like Spring to me. Love this motley-mix lentil soup! Have a nice weekend!

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  2. Power packed soup and as u said a very hearty soup for winter!

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  3. Soup looks delicious, perfect for this cold weather!

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  4. Lovely soup..perfect for the weather.Totally loved the pictures !!

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  5. Works well for a recipe of dal with rotis and a lighter verison for soup! Beautiful snapshots as usual! :-)

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  6. wow..yummy soup....looks so perfect and delicious...I loved the clicks too..

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  7. I could definitely use a bowl of this right now to warm me up! =)

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  8. Hey thats an inviting,healthy and yummy soup..

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  9. Delicious dal..looks absolutely yummy

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  10. It is wet weather, the soup is perfect for the season!

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  11. Wow that's soo fantastic...yummy!

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  12. hmmmm yummy ! your clicks are too good !

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  13. Wowwwwwwwww... Awesome shots and delicious recipe.. Amazing job dear.. Thanks for sharing !!

    Indian Cuisine

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  14. This recipe seems super delicious and the pics are absolutely gorgeous...

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  15. Wat a comforting nutritious and protein rich soup,inviting!

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  16. Wow wonderful healthy one pot dish..looks awesome and soooooooooooo delicious.

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  17. a healthy and comforting soup. Love the pics too. Renee

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  18. Very comforting and yummy soup...

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  19. Wow a bowl full of comfort and taste...looks so tempting

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  20. All mixed lentils in plate is stunning and very comforting soup :)

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  21. like this super delicious, healthy recipe. will try it soon.

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  22. wow dats fab...u guys are so gud at wat u do

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  23. I had something very similar for lunch. So delicious! Such a big bean fan for soups! Vegan protein!

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  24. Hi nami, how r u da?..what a fabulous post!These days iam so lazy to comment and lazy even to blog...but i always come around to have a look and drool. But today's post and pictures dint trick me. It is so good that i cudnt go without writing u something. Love the combination of colours, loved that blue cloth and that green paathram behind and the jar!awesome!love that table or whatever it is kept on too...just brilliant!keep up teh good workp pals..u guys r doing a great job..
    hugs,
    shabs.

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  25. awesome soup and quite filling too. Adding yogurt sounds new and interesting.will try this.Fantastic clicks and i love the collage of lentils and red onion very much

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  26. A hearty & comforting soup..Makes a wholesome meal with some bread..I love it!!
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  27. Hi Sunitha ,

    Perfect soup for the climate ,here it is gloomy .Wish i could have that delicious soup right now .Nice presentation .

    http://sanscurryhouse.blogspot.com

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  28. This looks amazing!! We love lentils...thanks for sharing!!

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  29. a must try, esp now wince its soooo chilly although its spring. Love ur fotos.

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  30. I love lentil soup. Yours looks delicious. I like the combo of the different types of lentils:)

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  31. I love lentil soup. Yours looks delicious. I like the combo of the different types of lentils:)

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  32. Healthy and yummy... Looks so creamy and delicious..

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  33. Hearty and comforting soup...looks so tempting n delicious...And superb pics...

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  34. lentil soup is so heartwarming and hearty soup...always will be my favorite soup!...tempting clicks
    Smitha
    Smitha's Spicy Flavors

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  35. healthy and delicious ippol dieting anu enthaylum try cheyyunnundu

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  36. Gorgeous photos. And the soup looks so wonderfully hearty. Will have to make myself a batch!

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  37. What kind of mixed lentils do you use?

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  38. What kind of mixed lentils do you use?

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