Lentil Soup: The Best Recipes

Perfect for warming up cold autumn and winter evenings, lentil soup is a nutritious and healthy first course, packed with important health benefits. Lentils contain fiber, protein, iron, and B vitamins. They boast antioxidant properties and are an excellent ally for memory and concentration.

How to make lentil soup

So many good reasons to bring lentils to the table several times a week and to enjoy them in these two delicious soups we're offering: the first is the classic version, while the second features artichokes and a pinch of black pepper that makes the dish even more special. Once ready, serve the lentil soups with croutons.

Traditional recipe

• Preparation time: 20 minutes
• Cooking time: 15 20-minute 
• difficulty: Bassa

Let's start with the recipe for the classic version of lentil soup:

Ingredients

• 500g of lentils
• 2-3 ripe tomatoes
• 2 onions
• 2 3-garlic cloves
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 4-6 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

• Wash the lentils and leave them to soak for a few hours. Drain them and cook them in plenty of boiling salted water.
• Meanwhile, blanch the aromatic herbs andgarlic chopped in a pan without seasoning. As soon as they begin to release their aroma, pour in the olive oil and let the onions Chop. Add the chopped tomatoes.
• As soon as the tomatoes are soft, transfer the soffritto to the lentils, stir, and then cook for 15 minutes. Serve.

Recipe with artichokes

• Preparation time: 20 minutes 
• Cooking time: 30 minutes
• difficulty: Bassa

And now here's the artichoke variation : a fragrant dish thanks to the lemon among the ingredients. Let's see how it's prepared:

Ingredients

(For 4 people)

• 250 grams of lentils
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 black peppercorns
• 3 artichokes with thorns
• ½ lemon
• 1 small onion
• 4 spoons of extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

• If necessary, soak the lentils the night before.
• The day after, transferred the lentils in a pan with plenty of water, the bay leaf and the peppercorns. Cook, then drain them but preserved the cooking water.
• Meanwhile clean artichokes: remove the tough outer leaves and the thorns at the tips, cut them into quarters, clean them of the internal fibers and cut them into slices again. immerse them in a bowl of water acidulated with the juice of half a lemon.
• Chop the onion.
• Heat the oil in a pan that can hold the soup, let it brown the onion for a few minutes, then add the artichokes.
• Mix to flavor, wet Add a little of the lentil water, season with salt, cover, and cook, adding more liquid if necessary. The artichokes should simmer, not boil, so they should not be submerged.
• At the time of bring to the table, add four ladles of lentil water to the artichokes, heat, pour in the lentils, moisten with more liquid if necessary and depending on whether you prefer a more or less brothy soup.

Apple and curry recipe

• Preparation time: 20 minutes 
• Cooking time: 25 minutes 
• difficulty: Bassa 

This warm and tasty soup allows us to enjoy lentils in a version enlivened by spices.

Ingredients for 4 people)

• 250g of lentils
• 2 celery stalks with leaves
• 2 apples
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• 1 teaspoon curry
• 1 bay leaf
• A few cloves
• 4 spoons of extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

• To be done in advance: to soak the lentils in cold water. After about 12 hours, drain them and cook them in plenty of water with the bay leaf and cloves. Set aside the lentils and, separately, the filtered cooking water.
• lavare Thoroughly chop the celery, remove the strings and cut it into small pieces, including the leaves.
• To peel the apples and cut them into cubes too.
• In a saucepan heat the oil, add the celery and apples, and fry gently for a few minutes until they begin to release their water and soften.
• Add turmeric and curry and mix well to dissolve the spices.
• To pour Add the lentils and about half a liter of their water to the saucepan, adjusting the amount of liquid to your taste. Check that the apple and celery are cooked through, and to serve very hot.
• You can blend it, all or part of it, if you like.

Read also:

• Veggie burgers, the best recipes. From quinoa to lentils and beets.
• Lentil salad, a nutritious and healthy dish. Enriched with zucchini and green beans.
• Lentil bread: the recipe for making it at home
• The recipe for making a delicious, healthy and nutritious lentil pate