Golden Lentil Soup

What Type of Lentils Should You Use for Soup?

There are 4 main types of lentils:

• Brown Lentils: This is the most common variety.  If you see these in the grocery store and the package just says ‘lentils’ it is most likely brown lentils.  They have a mild earthy flavor.   These work well in soups, stews, and veggie burgers.
• Green Lentils: These are similar to brown lentils but have more flavor – slightly peppery.  They retain their shape well and with their stronger flavor they are good in salads and side dishes.
• Red and Yellow Lentils:  These come in a range of colors and are sold ‘split’ which is smaller pieces of lentils.  They are sweet and nutty and are common in Indian and middle Eastern dishes.  Because they are split and break down more than other lentils, they are really good in soups and stews, and casseroles and can act as a thickener.   These cook faster than brown and green lentils and so should be added when there is 15-30 minutes left in the cooking time.
• Specialty Lentils: These are typically a lot smaller than other types of lentils.  They have an earthy flavor and are very beautiful and so are a great base for salads or as a side dish with a protein.

Do You Have to Soak Lentils Before Cooking Them?

Lentils come in both canned and dried.  The canned version is great if you need a quick side dish or salad.  If you are making lentil soup or stew, you will definitely want to use the dried version.  You don’t need to soak lentils before cooking them, but you will want to rinse them.  Dried lentils can cook in less than an hour.  They don’t need to absorb all of the cooking liquid like rice.  You may want to test them during the cooking process to determine how you like them cooked.

How Do You Make Healthy Lentil Soup?

There are some tips to making a good lentil soup if you haven’t made it before:

• A good lentil soup starts with a good base.  Onion, carrots and celery all sauteed to bring out the flavors.
• Use fresh spices – this recipe uses cumin and you want to make sure that flavor is well represented.
• If you want a thicker and creamier lentil soup, blend some of it and then pour back into the soup.
• Lentil soup is SO good the next day!

Are Lentils Healthy?

Lentils are packed with fiber, protein, folate and vitamins and minerals.  They are an easy, affordable ingredient to add to lots of different types of meals.  If you want to try eating more lentils, here are some more recipes for you:

Kids Curry with Chicken and Lentils

Lemon Chicken Soup with Lentils

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3.4 from 61 votes

Hearty Lentil Soup

This hearty lentil soup is loaded with veggies and has an amazing texture and flavor kids will love!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 189kcal

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 medium carrots
• 2 ribs celery
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups dried lentils green or brown, rinsed
• 6-8 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 14 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• juice of a lemon optional

Instructions

• Dice onion, carrots, and celery.
• Place a large pot over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the diced onions and saute for 3-5 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the garlic, carrots and celery and saute for another 8-10 minutes until they have softened.
• Add the cumin, paprika, salt and pepper and cook for another 1-2 minutes until it becomes fragrant.
• Add the lentils, 6 cups of broth, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat all the way down to the lowest possible setting. Partially cover, and simmer gently for 30-40 minutes, or until the lentils are completely soft. If the soup is too thick for your liking, just add another 1-2 cups of broth and stir to combine.
• If you want a thicker soup, you can either use an immersion blender to give it a few quick blends or remove 1 cup of the soup, and blend in a blender then return to the pot.
• Add the lemon juice and zest of a lemon for a delicious bright flavor. Serve warm with crusty bread and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 264mg | Potassium: 639mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2902IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 4mg

Keyword : Golden Lentil Soup

www.superhealthykids.com

Sloppy Lentils