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This simple and wonderful lentil soup is so healthy you’ll want to eat it every day. To tell the truth, I have been eating it almost every day for lunch. It’s so filling and flavorful and freezes exceptionally well. The girls in the office stopped asking me what I brought for lunch because it’s often left-over lentil soup. When my husband travels a lot I like to make something that will last so I don’t have to cook every night. I made a big batch of this soup and froze more than half. I’ve never felt the least amount of dread about what’s in my lunch box when I have this soup to devour.
There are many varieties of lentils and they come in a rainbow of colors. Lentils are from the legume family and boast a respectable amount of vitamins, dietary fiber, minerals and protein. Red lentils, pictured above, are not the powerhouse variety, but I love to cook with them anyway. When added to soups and stews they add a delicate texture and flavor I love. Lentils are also inexpensive and Health Magazine named them one of the five healthiest foods.
I also added green lentils to blend the textures and health benefits. As with dried beans, be sure to wash and pick over the lentils removing any debris.
Add a healthy bunch of chopped carrots and onions for flavor and color.
Wash and trim a big bunch of Kale, removing the tough stems. Kale, the real super food, helps keep your immune system strong. Kale cooks down quickly much like fresh spinach.
A big pot of healthy soup is like wearing a comfortable old sweater. You know … the one your family threatens to throw away if they ever get their hands on it. Yes I have an ugly sweater my family hates. Oh well, at least I don’t wear it in Christmas card photos!
Maybe I should wear my sweater and eat this soup – that would be just heavenly 🙂
Lentil & Kale Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Hearty and healthy and loaded with flavor
Course: Soup
Servings: 6 bowls
Ingredients
- 5 cups water
- 2 heaping tablespoons vegetable base (Better than Bouillon Vegetable Base)
- 2 cups sliced carrots
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
- 1/3 cup dry red lentils, rinsed
- 1/3 cup dry green lentils, rinsed
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups kale, stems removed, cut into bite size pieces
Instructions
- In a large stock pot combine the water, vegetable base, carrots, onions, and lentils. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes. Stir in all remaining ingredients and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes until the Kale is wilted and soft.
- Serve with a dash of hot sauce if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
(adapted from a recipe in the November 2011 Taste of Home Magazine)
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I really do love this soup. It makes me feel better about the cookies I ate last weekend 🙂 It’s all in the balance – right? I hope you have a lovely weekend. I feel there is something with pumpkin in my future. How about yours???
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
This has become one of my favorite soup recipes – and my family asks for it all the time! Hooray! :)<br />Even though the soup is delicious, for some reason I always get these kind of "soapy" bubbles in the soup. It seems to happen after I add the kale, so I'm thinking that's the culprit. Doesn't effect the taste, but doesn't look too pretty. Anyone know why this happens
I have never had this happen and can't imagine why – bubbles? How odd. I usually buy organic kale for whatever reason. I would first try to buy the kale from a different produce market / grocery store. Maybe they spray it with something that causes the bubbles. You could also try washing the kale in a sink full of cool water with a little vinegar. Drain and rinse really well and see if
That looks SO good. I actually want that for lunch right now. I love the addition of garam masala, and using both red and green lentils is SUCH a good idea, since the red ones get a bit mushy and I find the green keep their texture. It probably works out to be a really nice mix. 🙂
Oh, do we love our lentils here! I've bookmarked this for my next soup craving! I love how healthy this soup looks! Thanks for sharing:)
Wow it doesn't get much healthier than this. What a fantastic recipe and perfect for the chilly fall weather we've had this week. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I am absolutely addicted to lentil soup. I am definitely going to have to make this soon!
that's a healthy broth :)! <br /><br />Latest: <a href="http://ohfishiee.blogspot.com/2012/10/zen-garden-taman-cuepacs-batu-9-cheras.html" rel="nofollow">Mookata: Smell your BBQ Flavour</a>
I bought some beautiful kale yesterday and this soup looks good enough for a magazine. I've got to try it.
Don't you just love when something so healthy also tastes good? Mmm mmm good!
Warm and comforting. Delicious!
My mom gave me her lentil soup recipe to make. It is pretty similar, I am definitely making it tomorrow! YUM, yours looks amazing.
How perfect for a fall evening. This looks and sounds delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
I've always wanted to try red lentils!
What a beautiful soup. We love lentils, and I really like the rich color the tomato paste gives this. And garam masala is an interesting addition—thanks Tricia!
Tricia, we love lentil dishes. This is one great comfort soup.Perfect for the rainy and windy days over here.
Tricia, this looks sublime – and we have about a ton of kale in the garden still, so it will definitely be on the rotation soon!
Tricia, this soup looks and sounds heavenly! Gorgeous photos too! Oh, and I have a sweatshirt that's 15 years old! I pulled it out the other day and it was like finding an old friend – my husband hates it with the sleeves all frayed and the whole thing quite ugly (but bery loved, somewhat like the Velveteen Rabbit!)
Yes! I'm not the only one with a beautiful-ugly-favorite-old friend! If my old sweater would fall apart, I guess I would throw it away – but it washes up beautifully and still feels marvelous!
I've been ready to come home for several days–and now, even more so! <br />I want to hug you…and then hug a big bowl of this soup…if there's any left. 🙂 <br />See you tonight. <br />TH
Sorry but the soup is gone – I brought the last of it in my lunch today 🙁 I can always make more! Hurry home – we have a wedding to get ready for! And we miss you!
Love your soup description, Tricia. A cozy old sweater, a bowl of soup, this is deliciousness all wrapped up in comfort. <br /><br />The countdown is winding down. Can you believe how close you are to the wedding day????
I am sooooo excited Mary. You'd think I'm getting married. I stopped to get gas on the way to work yesterday and a complete stranger asked me what I was smiling about. I guess I really stood out because nobody smiles at the gas pumps these days! I am so happy for my son and my future daughter-in-law. They are so happy.