Last Sunday was absolutely hectic – I had so many errands to run in addition to driving boys to and from Sunday school, just busy, busy, busy and busy. With the weather changing three times a day, I also caught a mother of all colds, and I had the biggest craving for comfort food -something that warms you up and gives you a hug from the inside. Taking a look in my cupboard gave me an idea for a red lentil soup. I prepped everything in the morning – sautéed the onions with the spices, added broth and chopped tomatoes brought the base to boil, added everything into the slow cooker, set it for 4 hours and ran out of the house. This soup was a hit – aromatic and flavorful, easy on the waist line and extremely satisfying.
*Even though this recipe if for a slow cooker, if you don’t have one – you can simmer the soup in the dutch oven or a soup pot on the stove top for about 2 hours with the same result.
*I usually grind my own coriander and cumin, roasting the seeds in the pan just before grinding them , bring out their flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 cups lentils
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 3.5 cups crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups of water
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 6 tablespoons chopped parsley and/or cilantro (I didn’t have cilantro on hand this time around)
Directions
1. Heat olive in a Dutch oven and add onions. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
2. Add garlic, spices and salt to the onions and cook about a 1 minute more.
3. Add broth, water and tomatoes to the onion mixture, bring to a boil.
4. Pour the broth into the slow cooker, and add the lentils. Cook on “High” for 4 hours of on “Slow” for 6 hours.
5. Add lemon juice to the cooked soup, mix and puree (You don’t have to). Garnish with parsley and/or cilantro.
6. Bon Appetite!
Sweet 'n' Savory 
I love this soup, it is just perfect for any time of the year, so filling, delicious and spices are perfect!