Lebanese Lemon Lentil Soup

Description

This wonderful comfort soup is a balance of lemon, salt, heat, and savory herbs. Serve it on a cold day. Can be made vegan, vegetarian, or with chicken easily.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 stalks celery with leaves, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 cups French green lentils
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon salt, or more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ cup butter (Optional)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (Optional)
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion
  2. celery
  3. and carrots until slightly tender
  4. about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant
  5. 30 seconds. Add water
  6. lentils
  7. 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
  8. salt
  9. coriander
  10. cumin
  11. black pepper
  12. and cayenne pepper; stir to incorporate. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender
  13. stirring occasionally
  14. 1 1/2 hours.
  15. Whisk butter and flour together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; stir constantly until thickened and paste-like
  16. about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low
  17. stirring every 2 to 3 minutes
  18. until light brown
  19. about 20 more minutes. Whisk flour paste into finished soup
  20. a spoonful at a time
  21. until smooth and creamy. Serve with lemon wedges
  22. 2 tablespoons parsley
  23. and a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr 35 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins

Servings: 10

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