Green Lentil Soup
After being out in the bitter cold wintry weather, even just to run our errands, we always feel as if the cold has a way of working its way into our core. And even for a long while after we’ve made our way into the warmth of our New York City apartments, we feel it. We’ve found that one of the best ways to ward off these cold, wintry days, is to indulge in this savory, satisfying and nutritious lentil soup! Lentils are one of the most nutritious foods–full of fiber, protein, and iron—so they’ll keep you energized and satisfied throughout the day.
This Green Lentil Soup is the perfect dish to make in large batches so that you have delicious leftovers for the next couple of days. We suggest adding a dollop of Greek yogurt for additional protein in your meal. It adds a rich creaminess and tastes like sour cream, but without all of the fat and calories! When we eat the leftovers, we often round out a protein-packed meal like grilled chicken with a half serving of the soup and a side salad.
Green Lentil Soup
Serves 9
Serving Size: 1 Cup
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry, whole green lentils
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 medium carrots, peeled, and cut into ½ inch pieces
- 3 garlic cloves, pressed
- 1 tablespoon oregano, dried
- ½ tablespoon salt
- ½ tablespoon rosemary
- 2 dried red peppers* (such as these)
- pinch of pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt, to taste,
- pepper to taste
*Alternatively you can use the 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes seasoning
Directions
1. In a large pot bring about 5 cups of water to a boil. Add lentils to the water and boil for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
2. Remove the pan from the heat, and while keeping the lentils in the pan, drain most of the water to remove some of the bitterness by pouring over a strainer to catch any lentils that may fall. The water that you pour will be blackened, but be sure to leave 1 inch of the water in the cooking pot to retain some nutrients, such as iron from the lentils.
3. Add more water to the pot so that there is about an inch of water above the lentils. Add carrots, onion, salt, pepper, rosemary, oregano, garlic cloves, and bay leaves.
4. Snap the dried red pepper in half so that the seeds fall into the pot.
5. Stir the ingredients together and bring the water back to a boil. Once the water begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low or a simmer and allow to heat until the soup reaches a thick consistency. Regularly stir especially towards the end so that the bottom does not burn. This should take about 40 to 50 minutes. Once soup has thickened, season with rice vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil over the top, if desired.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (without yogurt, oil drizzled on top and salt to taste): 193 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 436 mg sodium, 36 g carbs, 15.5 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 12 g protein
- 2 cups dry, whole green lentils
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 medium carrots, peeled, and cut into ½ inch pieces
- 3 garlic cloves, pressed
- 1 tablespoon oregano, dried
- ½ tablespoon salt
- ½ tablespoon rosemary
- 2 dried red peppers* (such as these http://bit.ly/1DsD9Dd)
- pinch of pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt, to taste,
- pepper to taste
- *Alternatively you can use the ½ teaspoon red chili pepper flakes seasoning
- In a large pot bring about 5 cups of water to a boil. Add lentils to the water and boil for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Remove the pan from the heat, and while keeping the lentils in the pan, drain most of the water to remove some of the bitterness by pouring over a strainer to catch any lentils that may fall. The water that you pour will be blackened, but be sure to leave 1 inch of the water in the cooking pot to retain some nutrients, such as iron from the lentils.
- Add more water to the pot so that there is about an inch of water above the lentils. Add carrots, onion, salt, pepper, rosemary, oregano, garlic cloves, and bay leaves.
- Snap the dried red pepper in half so that the seeds fall into the pot.
- Stir the ingredients together and bring the water back to a boil. Once the water begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium-low or a simmer and allow to heat until the soup reaches a thick consistency. Regularly stir especially towards the end so that the bottom does not burn. This should take about 40 to 50 minutes. Once soup has thickened, season with rice vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil over the top, if desired.
- Nutrition Facts Per Serving (without yogurt, oil drizzled on top and salt to taste): 193 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 436 mg sodium, 36 g carbs, 15.5 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 12 g protein