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Epicurious
Gourmet

Red-Lentil Soup

4.5

(106)

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Red lentils, faster-cooking than other varieties of the legume, are the foundation of this earthy, rustic soup. Light but satisfying, it's a wonderful (and easy) start to an autumn meal.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 1/4 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 4 to 6 servings (makes 6 cups)

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 cup red lentils (7 ounces), picked over and rinsed
3 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 cups water
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Accompaniment: lemon wedges

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook onion in oil with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.

    Step 2

    Add garlic, cumin, bay leaf, and thyme and cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Add lentils, broth, water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until lentils are very soft and falling apart, about 30 to 45 minutes.

    Step 3

    Discard bay leaf and thyme sprig, then purée 2 cups of mixture in blender (use caution when blending hot liquids) and return to pan.

    Step 4

    Stir in parsley and season with salt.

TagsSoupSoup/StewLentilBean and LegumeVegetableGarlicRoot VegetableThymeHerbs & SpicesSideStarterDairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreeEasyWeeknight MealsSimmerBlenderGourmet

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