Lentil Soup, known as Shorbet Adas, is a staple in Mediterranean cuisines. When it comes to soup, we already know how hearty, warm, and cozy it can make us feel. In Arab countries, Mediterranean lentil Soup is an essential dish in the Ramadan spread, as it is prepared on most days of Ramadan. Similarly, this perfectly spiced and creamy few-ingredient lentil soup is a perfect healthy bowl for cold and rainy days. It is effortlessly easy to make and only needs 30 minutes of your time.
A Cozy Lentil Soup
Lentils are the Staple of Mediterranean Cuisine
Lentils are one of the better-known staples in Mediterranean cuisines. There are entire dishes with lentils as the star ingredient. Lentils are perfect for vegetarians, vegans, and general healthy or clean eating habits. They are a great way to feel full and add differing textures and flavors to meals.
Originally, this particular soup came from the Levant region. The creamy texture with earthiness flavor of spices is the perfect harmony for everyone to enjoy. Normally a lentil soup base has no more than five ingredients, but different Middle East regions have their own spin on it by adding other vegetables. The most popular vegetables to use in lentil soup are usually carrots, celery, and potatoes.
Ingredients for Lentil Soup
The main ingredient to start with is the lentils. Different regions of the Middle East may use different lentils like red or yellow. We are using Red Lentils in our soup. Another vital base ingredient is the spices, especially the cumin. Cumin does not only give the earthy savory flavor to the soup, but also has many health benefits.
Our recipe is a very basic one; that is why you can customize it by adding different vegetables or broth. The most commonly added vegetables are carrot, celery, and potato. These ingredients add more creaminess and a hint of sweetness as well. Moreover, potatoes can give more body to the soup due to their starchy nature.
People also use vegetable or chicken broth as a soup base instead of water. Vegetable or chicken broth will enhance the flavors and make it very savory. It is up to you and what you’re in the mood for!.
Health Benefits of Lentils
Some people find lentils hard to digest or leaving them bloated, so cumin helps develop the digestive enzymes that allows the food to digest easily. That is why it is an ideal choice for everyone, even for the patients. It helps in body recovery and helps fuel up the body with energy to build immunity.
On the other hand, lentils are high in protein, iron, and polyphenols. Polyphenols are the compounds that help the body fight against the harmful agents that cause heart disease and cancer.
This Luscious Soup Is Worth The Try!
FYI, It's Meatless!
This lentil soup is meatless, and it is a great alternative for vegans and vegetarians. Due to high protein and iron levels, it is the best substitute for meat, especially for people who want to reduce weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Lentil soup is a great side or main dish for vegetarians and vegans.
Overall, the dish is well balanced with protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, and folic acids. That is why it is considered as a complete meal for people of all ages. In the Middle Eastern countries, it is often used to treat the common cold.
How to Serve This Soup
It can be served with literally anything, and it can be eaten on its own. Our favorite way to serve this soup is with fried or baked pita bread, naan bread, garlic bread, and fried croutons. It can also be served with a bowl of rice. One of the most popular ways of serving the Middle Eastern Lentil Soup is by sprinkling nuts, herbs, and a squeeze of lemon.
A hearty bowl of soup can never go wrong. It does not matter if it is winter or summer, breakfast or dinner, soup can be very warming, mood lifting, and healthy. Middle Eastern Lentil Soup fulfills all your nutritional and health requirements that are not often fulfilled by regular meals. This tasty Mediterranean Lentil Soup is worth trying. You will definitely keep coming for more.
Tips and Tricks
- Remove the white foam that appears on the water when boiling the lentils.
- Add a little butter to the soup before you finish cooking it, it will give it an amazing creamy taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can freeze this Soup. Before you reheat the soup, it is preferable that you defrost the soup for 15 minutes at least or set it in the fridge overnight.
The most popular veggies to use in lentils are usually carrots, celery, and potatoes.
Serve the Lentil Soup with pita bread, garlic bread, or garnish on the top of the dish fresh parsley.
Mediterranean Lentil Soup
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- red lentils
- jasmine rice (optional)
- chopped onions
- curry powder
- turmeric powder
- salt to taste
- oil
- freshly chopped parsley (for garnishing)
- lemon wedges (for garnishing)
Steps To Make This Lentil Soup
- In a bowl, wash lentils and rice until water runs clear.
- Add them to a cooking pot with 5-6 cups of water. Let it simmer on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. You can also pressure cook lentils for 10 minutes.
- Once the lentil and rice are mushy, blend them in the blender or with an emergent blender. You can add 1 to 2 cups of water if the mixture is too thick; this will help with the consistency and it ease the blending process.
- In a separate saucepan, heat the oil and sauté the chopped onion until translucent.
- Take the pan off the heat and add curry powder and turmeric powder. Mix them and cook the mixture on low heat for a minute while stirring.
- Now add the onion mixture and salt to the lentil mixture.
- Let it simmer on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until it thickens to the desired consistency. Do stir occasionally to avoid sticking and burning.
- Serve it hot with a sprinkle of parsley and a wedge of lemon.
Other Recipes You Must Try:
- Cheddar broccoli soup from scratch
- Bulgur pilaf with vermicelli and Chicken
- baked chicken leg and thigh quarters
- Chicken enchilada with Philadelphia cream cheese
- Easy Homemade Ramadan Bread
- Perfect Homemade Ground Beef Gyro
- Steak and cheese pita recipe
- Mashed Potatoes with Boursin Cheese
- Juicy Baked Chicken Leg And Thigh Quarters
- The Best Eggplant Kabob
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Easy Mediterranean Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils
- 2 tbsp. jasmine rice (optional)
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 3 tsp. curry powder
- ½ tsp. turmeric powder
- salt to taste
- 3 tbsp. oil
- 2 tsp. freshly chopped parsley (for garnishing)
- lemon wedges (for garnishing)
Instructions
- In a bowl, wash lentils and rice until water runs clear.
- Add them to a cooking pot with 5-6 cups of water. Let it simmer on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. You can also pressure cook lentils for 10 minutes.
- Once the lentil and rice are mushy, blend them in the blender or with an emergent blender. You can add 1 to 2 cups of water if the mixture is too thick; this will help with the consistency and it ease the blending process.
- In a separate saucepan, heat the oil and sauté the chopped onion until translucent.
- Take the pan off the heat and add curry powder and turmeric powder. Mix them and cook the mixture on low heat for a minute while stirring.
- Now add the onion mixture and salt to the lentil mixture.
- Let it simmer on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until it thickens to the desired consistency. Do stir occasionally to avoid sticking and burning.
- Serve it hot with a sprinkle of parsley and a wedge of lemon.
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