I will admit, this easy lentil soup recipe has served me lots of good, including happy faces, full tummies and a good word (or two) from my mother in law.
I have talked already about being addicted to the smell of apples in the fall time, but there is another smell that I totally adore - it's the aroma of lentil soup cooking in the slow cooker. Another reminder that fall is here, my favorite time of the year.
This is a Turkish lentil soup recipe, which I learned how to make it to spoil (or impress) my hubby when we started dating. This was literally the easiest recipe from his country that I could make. I tweaked it to our liking through the years and I think it's PERFECT now.
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup (about 8 ounces) red lentils
- 7 cups chicken broth (vegetable broth is perfect too)
- 1 small potato
- 1 large onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- cayenne pepper, or to taste
- sea salt, or to taste
- some olive oil
- Lemon wedges and dried mint for serving
How to
It's really very simple.
Chop the onion, garlic and potato to minimum, because it will get blended anyway.
Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker and put it on high until it starts boiling (probably half an hour).
Turn it low and let it cook for 6-8 hours. If you don't have time waiting until it starts boiling cook it for 8 - 10 hours on low or on high 4-5 hours.
Blend it after it's cooked.
Add some dried mint (honestly I think it's the best part of this lentil soup recipe). It combines and compliments all the other flavors. Squeeze some lemon juice.
The croutons
That's where the kids come in. Toast the bread in the oven, brush it with garlic and olive oil sprinkle some dried herbs. Let the kids use cookie cutter to cut out some fun shapes for the croutons. Don't toast too ling and make sure to cut out shapes while it's still warm. It will come out easier.
After you done staring at that beautiful color, dig your spoon in and start eating. This soup is perfect with some crunchy salad.
Here you have it a lentil soup recipe that will take you literally 5 minutes to make (minus the cooking part).
Tanya W says
Sounds delish! Going to make this tonight. 🙂
Birute Efe says
I hope you enjoy it.
Jessica says
What is the difference between red lentils and brown/green? Can I substitute?
Birute Efe says
Jessica, sure you can substitute. But of course the taste will be different and also if you use green lentils you might add a spoon of flour to thicken it up a little if you will be blending it at the end.
Dani says
I have made this numerous times -- it's great! It's been a hit with my Lunch Club at work, and my very fussy husband even likes it 🙂