Hearty Lentil Soup

 Anna Maurice’s Submission

Preparation:

Step 1

Take 2 cups of brown lentils and wash thoroughly in running water.

Step 2

Boil lentils in water (cover to boil faster).

Step 3

Cut up onions to sauté — add salt, as much garlic as you want, can add chicken and/or vegetable broth and any spices (we like a bit of cumin, sometimes a pinch of turmeric).

Step 4

While onions are on gas and lentils are boiling, put 1 tablespoon spiced tomato paste named "Adjika" [this is an Armenian paste but it is essentially cilantro, red pepper paste & garlic in one paste -- can find another option!) into boiling water of lentils (this will be soup base -- either water and/or with broth depending on preference).

Step 5

Next, add dried dill weed into soup.

Step 6

Add jalapeño pepper and red pepper spices into soup.

Step 7

Finally, season with salt.

Step 8

Can add another tablespoon of Adjika if you want (it is red pepper, garlic, cilantro)

Step 9

Add sautéed onions into soup.

Step 10

Add white rice into soup -- it will be cooked within soup/broth.

Step 11

Taste for salt + pepper. Add more dill if you want in the end and then fresh cilantro in the end if you have it.

Step 12

Keep lentil soup covered the entire time at medium simmer.

Bon appetit!