Simple Recipes - Lentil Soup

8 toddler servings, 4 adult servings

Ingredients

1 cup red lentil
2 medium sized potatoes cut in small cubes
4 – 5 baby carrots, grated
1 small onion, cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon butter (optional)
1 teaspoon flour
A pinch of turmeric (optional)
6 cups warm water

Method

Wash lentil with cold water in a 1 quart saucepan. Pour off the wash water. Add about 4 cups of warm water to the washed lentil. Add grated carrots and potatoes. Make sure there is enough water in the pot to cover the lentil and the vegetables. Cover and cook on very low heat for about 30 – 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not increase the heat otherwise it will boil over and spill off the pot. Keep adding warm water as needed. Once cooked, the potatoes will soften and the lentil will turn yellow. Add more water to desired consistency. Add flour, butter, turmeric and mix gently. When fully cooked, add the mix to a food processor and blend at medium speed. Serve with a piece of bread. Make sure it is not too hot for your toddler.

Sometimes, we also add chopped cilantro right after blending and let it simmer for a little while. It adds a nice smell and flavor to the soup.

About Lentils

Source: Wikipedia Commons

Lentils are a very good source of protein (about 26%); therefore they are a very important part of a vegetarian diet. They come in a lot of different colors such as red, yellow, green, brown and black. They are also very rich in fiber, minerals, iron, folate and vitamin B1. We like the red lentils because they are easiest to cook. You can also make a lentil curry and serve it with Basmati rice. There are many recipes on the web; I found one here that looks quite good. Also, there are a few interesting variations on GreenLiteBites, a site you can find on my Links page.