Well, the new Canadian Food Guide is out and lentils are on top of the list along with beans & peas! To be honest, we were huge meat fans in this house. This changed after my health issues at the end of 2018. To be able to find alternatives, we turned a lot to protein substitutes, such as lentils. Furthermore, my son now has a girlfriend and she is vegetarian! You can imagine my excitement on being able to learn more on vegetarian cuisine and test recipes in my kitchen! Why not start with a soup that can be a meal?
We are in the middle of Winter. Mother Nature’s mood is all over the place –rain one day, then freezing temperatures… we need skates to make it to our car! Nothing warms the soul like a hot hearty soup. Taking only 30 minutes to cook, believe me, this soup does the trick.
In order to make it, you will need:
- 2 Tbsp of Olive Oil
- 4 branches of celery, chopped
- 1 yellow onion
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 4 cups of water
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 1/2 cup of green lentils
- 1 Tbsp of chicken bouillon powder
- 1 tsp of dry parsley
- 1/2 tsp of dry basil
- 1/2 tsp of dry oregano
- Salt & pepper
Step 1
In a large saucepan, heat your olive oil. Add your celery, onion & garlic. Cook for 10 minutes or until the onions are translucent, making sure to stir often.
Step 2
Add all your remaining ingredients and blend well together. Bring to a boil. Once it is boiling, reduce your heat to medium and let simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. You will notice that a lot of the liquid will evaporate and that’s OK.
Alternative…
If you have kids and are worried that they won’t like the fact it is lentils, you may add some fun shape pasta. Simply add the pasta at the very end and let the pasta cook according to cooking recommendations on the box (usually 10 – 15 min). If you do take this alternative, I recommend that you reduce your lentils to 1/3 cup and add a cup of water prior to adding your pasta. This is a fun way to introduce lentils to kids!
It’s that simple to get a complete, high protein, meal in a bowl. It serves well as a weekday evening meal or in lunches. Pair with a good baguette, some crackers or add some shredded cheese… the possibilities are endless.
Enjoy!
