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How To Plan A Nourishing Meal Using Easy Lentil Soup

By Roger Peterson


The long, slow simmering most soups and stews require to develop optimum flavor is not necessary when cooking with lentils. Easy lentil soup recipes give that same flavor with only approximately 35 minutes cooking time with lentils. Aromatics and spices give it that desired flavor, with the different spices and aromatics giving different flavors.

Lentil soup provides nutrition beyond most things. They are low in calories, low in fats, and high in vitamins and minerals. Most nutritionists flag lentils as very high in health resources. In addition, they are perfect for vegans and those who are looking for gluten-free foods. They are high in fibers and antioxidants in vegetables, herbs, and spices.

The nutrient content of lentils make them very desirable and recommended by many nutritionists. They supply vital minerals, such as iron, phosphorus, and zinc. These are often hard to incorporate into the regular diet of many people. They are also very high in many B vitamins, vital to good health. All this makes them a healthy food that is beneficial in the diet.

Lentils have a very mild flavor, many people claim no flavor at all. This makes it possible to make the lentil soup with ethnic flavors. Any strong spices and aromatics give it a different flavor. There is Thai, Italian, Lebanese, Indian, Mexican, Ethiopian, American, and just a strongly flavored soup with lots of EVOO to give it flavor.

The soup can be made more like a stew by cooking it until somewhat dry and leaving the vegetables whole. Adding extra moisture, either as stock, water, or coconut milk and using a stick blender to pulverize the vegetables to make a creamy consistency to taste. Lentils are very versatile due to all the many things that can be done with it.

The aromatics that help give lentils their flavor include carrots, onions, celery, garlic, an assortment of different peppers, ginger, and anything else that will define the ethnicity you wish to emulate. Use EVOO to soften the aromatics without browning them. Just steam then over a low simmer until soft and the onions are translucent. Then add the desired spices and continue to steam until the aroma is released, meaning the flavor is enhanced.

Another common soup vegetable that can be used is tomatoes. Roasted tomatoes are often used to give a greater flavor. Many cultures us them in making any soup, but with lentils they can sometimes sort of overpower the delicate flavor. So it is best to test using tomatoes in different amounts to see if you like them in the dish or not.

There can also be added flavor in the cooking liquid. Chicken stock, vegetable stock, and beef stock are only some of the liquids used, in addition to water. Coconut milk gives a very rich unique flavor as well. While simmering, keep a pan of hot stock or coconut milk on the burner beside so you can add ladles of liquid when it gets thick, unless you want that consistency.




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