Oh-So-Simple French Lentil Soup

• Produce

  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 2 Carrots
  • 2 stalks Celery
  • 1 cup French lentils
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 3 sprigs Thyme
  • 1 White or yellow onion, large

• Canned Goods

  • 2 tbsp Tomato paste
  • 4 cups Vegetable broth, low-sodium

• Baking & Spices

  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
  • 3/4 tsp Salt

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil

• Beer, Wine & Liquor

  • 1 Splash Sherry

Found on thefullhelping.com

Description

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large white or yellow onion, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup French lentils (substitute green/brown lentils or pardina lentils)
• 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 bay leaf
• A few sprigs thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Splash of sherry, balsamic, or white wine vinegar, or splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Optional: ¼ cup sherry, 4 cups baby spinach or chopped greens, toast, vegan parmesan topping or my hempesan, nutritional yeast

Directions

• Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Saute, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and the onion is soft and clear. Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the tomato paste, lentils, broth, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer the soup for 45 minutes. 5 minutes before the soup is ready, you can add the sherry and finish simmering the soup uncovered. You can also add baby spinach or chopped greens, stir them into the soup, and simmer uncovered for the final 5 minutes of cooking time.
• Add the vinegar or lemon juice to the soup. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. If you’d like the soup to be thinner, add a bit of water to the pot. Serve with a slice of toast and some vegan parmesan, my hempesan, or nutritional yeast, if desired.