Vibrant Green Lentil Delight
Experience the freshness of garden greens in this hearty Vibrant Green Lentil Delight soup. Packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like chard, spinach, and broccoli, this comforting soup is perfect for cozy gatherings or a wholesome weeknight dinner. The combination of green lentils and aromatic spices creates a satisfying and nutritious meal that can be enjoyed by everyone. Easy to prepare and bursting with flavor, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
18
Ingredients
Ingredients
extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons (none)
yellow onions
2 large (chopped)
salt
1 1/4 teaspoons (divided)
water
4 cups (divided)
green lentils
1 cup (rinsed)
chard leaves
8 large (stems trimmed, leaves chopped)
Yukon Gold potato
1 medium (scrubbed and diced)
spinach leaves
10 ounces (stems removed, chopped)
scallions
4 (cut into 1-inch pieces)
broccoli
2 cups (chopped)
cumin seed
1 tablespoon (toasted and ground)
coriander
1/2 teaspoon (none)
cilantro
1 cup (chopped)
mint
2 tablespoons (chopped)
jalapeno pepper
1/2 (minced)
black pepper
to taste (none)
lemon juice
1 tablespoon (to taste)
feta cheese
for garnish (crumbled)
Instructions
1
In a large skillet over high heat, heat the extra virgin olive oil until shimmering. Add the chopped yellow onions and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Sauté while stirring frequently until the onions start to brown, about 5 minutes.
2
Reduce the heat to low, add 2 tablespoons of water, and cover. Cook while stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Continue cooking until the onions are deeply caramelized and greatly reduced, about 25-35 minutes.
3
While the onions cook, rinse the green lentils under cold water, removing any small stones. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, combine the lentils with the remaining 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
4
As the lentils simmer, prepare the chard by trimming the white ribs and chopping the greens. Set the ribs and greens aside separately. Dice the Yukon Gold potato into 1/2-inch pieces and chop the spinach, removing any tough stems.
5
After 20 minutes, stir in the chard ribs, diced potato, scallions, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt into the simmering lentils. Return to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
6
Add the chard leaves, chopped broccoli, toasted cumin, and coriander to the soup. Once the onions are caramelized, gently stir in a small amount of the liquid from the soup to temper them, then add the onions to the pot. Return the soup to a simmer, cover, and cook for 5 more minutes.
7
Finally, stir in the reserved spinach, chopped cilantro, mint, minced jalapeño, and black pepper. Cover and cook until the spinach is tender yet bright green, approximately 5 additional minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and taste; adjust with more lemon juice and/or pepper if desired.
8
Serve hot, garnished with crumbled feta cheese on each bowl.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vibrant Green Lentil Delight?
It is a hearty and nutritious soup featuring green lentils, chard, spinach, and broccoli.
What type of lentils are used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for one cup of rinsed green lentils.
How long does it take to caramelize the onions?
After initial browning, the onions are cooked on low heat for 25-35 minutes until deeply caramelized.
What kind of potato is recommended?
One medium Yukon Gold potato, scrubbed and diced into 1/2-inch pieces, is used.
Which greens are included in the soup?
The soup includes chard leaves, spinach leaves, and chopped broccoli.
How do I prepare the chard?
Trim the white ribs from the leaves and chop them; the ribs and leaves are added to the soup at different times.
Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, the recipe is tagged as vegetarian.
What spices are used to flavor the soup?
The soup is flavored with toasted and ground cumin seed and coriander.
Does the recipe use fresh herbs?
Yes, it includes one cup of chopped cilantro and two tablespoons of chopped mint.
How much water is needed in total?
A total of 4 cups of water is used, added in divided portions.
Is the soup spicy?
It contains a mild heat from half of a minced jalapeno pepper.
When should I add the lemon juice?
Stir in one tablespoon of lemon juice at the very end of cooking to brighten the flavors.
What is the recommended garnish?
The soup is served hot with a garnish of crumbled feta cheese.
How should I prepare the lentils?
Rinse them under cold water and remove any small stones before boiling.
What is the first step in the cooking process?
Heat extra virgin olive oil in a skillet and sauté chopped yellow onions with salt until they brown.
How long do the lentils simmer initially?
The lentils simmer for 20 minutes before other vegetables are added.
How much broccoli is used?
The recipe requires 2 cups of chopped broccoli.
What size should the scallions be cut?
The 4 scallions should be cut into 1-inch pieces.
How much spinach is needed?
The recipe calls for 10 ounces of chopped spinach with the tough stems removed.
What is the total amount of salt used?
A total of 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt is used, added in divided amounts.
How do I prevent the onions from sticking while caramelizing?
Reduce the heat to low, add 2 tablespoons of water, and cover while stirring frequently.
What does it mean to temper the onions?
Before adding caramelized onions to the soup, stir in a small amount of the soup liquid to adjust their temperature.
When are the chard ribs added?
The chard ribs are added after the lentils have simmered for 20 minutes.
How long do the potatoes cook?
The diced potatoes are simmered in the soup for approximately 15 minutes.
How do I know when the spinach is done?
Cook the spinach for about 5 minutes until it is tender yet remains bright green.
Can I adjust the seasoning at the end?
Yes, you can add more lemon juice or black pepper to taste before serving.
What type of oil is used?
The recipe specifies using extra virgin olive oil.
Is this a high protein meal?
Yes, it is tagged as high protein due to the green lentils.
What category does this recipe fall under?
This recipe is categorized as a soup.
Is this recipe easy to prepare?
Yes, it is described as an easy recipe that is perfect for wholesome weeknight dinners.