Healthy Golden Lentil Soup
In this Golden Lentil Soup; onions, celery and carrots cook with lentils, herbs and spices in broth. Blend or don't, either way this soup feeds a crowd and couldn't be more simple. Serve topped with a little ghee, hemp hearts, cilantro and/or green onions with toasted naan.
Ingredients
- 1 pound green lentils
- 1 tablespoon ghee clarified butter or olive oil (to make vegetarian)
- 1 medium yellow onion diced (about 2 cups)
- 2 medium carrots diced (about 3/4 cup)
- 3 small celery stalks diced (about 3/4 cup)
- 2 cloves garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth plus more as needed
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt more or less to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
FOR SERVING:
- frech cilantro or parsley
- hemp hearts
- melted ghee
- toasted naan bread
Instructions
- Thoroughly sort the lentils and add to a mesh strainer, rinse and drain.
- In a dutch oven, melt the ghee (or olive oil) over medium-low heat.
- Next add in the onion, carrots and celery with a pinch of salt. Stir, cover and sauté for 5 to 8 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Next add in the garlic, stir and cook for 1 minute. Then add in the oregano, turmeric, thyme, onion powder and garlic powder. Stir before adding in the rinsed lentils.
- Pour in 8 cups of broth and drop in the bay leaves. Cover, bring to a boil over high heat before reducing and simmering for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
- Use a immersion blender and pulse a few times until it reaches a desired consistency. Adding more broth if needed. Taste and season with kosher salt and pepper.
- Ladle 3/4 cup into a bowl and top with cilantro and/or parsley, hemp hearts and a drizzle of ghee (or use olive oil). Serve with toasted slices of naan. I like whole grain naan because of the flavor and texture.
Nutrition
Serving: 1generous cup | Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 378mg | Potassium: 833mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2586IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 5mg