HEARTY LENTIL SOUP

This is a recipe I recently tried out from Cookie and Kate (https://cookieandkate.com/best-lentil-soup-recipe/) that is absolutely delicious. Here's how I made it. Top with vegan sour cream and serve with crusty bread.

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Ingredients

• ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil

• 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped

• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped

• 4 (large) garlic cloves, minced

• 2 teaspoons ground cumin

• 1 teaspoon curry powder

• 1 teaspoon spicy chili powder

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 large or 2 small cans diced tomatoes

• 1 cup brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed

• 4 cups (950 ml) vegetable broth

• 1 hefty teaspoon salt, more to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 1 cup chopped fresh kale (rib removed) or spinach (not baby spinach if you can, it hold up better)

• 1 medium lemon

Instructions

1. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

2. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion and carrot and cook, stirring often, until the onion has soft and translucent, about 5-6 minutes.

3. Add the garlic, cumin, curry powder, chili powder and thyme. Cook stirring constantly, about 2 more minutes. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and cook for another 3-5 minutes, stirring often.

4. Pour in the lentils and broth. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer (like cooking rice). Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape. This will depend on your lentils so give them a check around 20 mins and judge/adjust.

5. Transfer 3 cups of the soup to a blender. Securely fasten the lid, protect your hand from steam with a tea towel placed over the lid, and purée the soup until smooth. Pour the puréed soup back into the pot.

6. Add the chopped greens and cook until the greens have wilted. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and/or lemon juice until you're happy.

7. Serve while hot. Top with a dollop of sour cream and serve with some crusty bread or latkes (aka just add carbs for maximum happiness).