Sonyas French Lentil Soup
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
6 cloves garlic, smashed
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 1/2 cup red wine
16 oz. dried lentils, sorted and rinsed
6 cup vegetable broth
2 tablespoon dried thyme or oregano
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
pepper to taste
optional: chopped spinach (frozen or fresh)
This makes a LOT of soup, but you will love it so much on these cold winter days that it won't last but a few days. I also find that it freezes pretty well.
Also, if you like carrots, you can substitute one stalk of celery for one carrot. I'm allergic to carrots, so I've never tried it, but I imagine it would be fine. Just make sure they are finely chopped.
1.) Heat a large soup pan over high heat. Add your oil and onions and celery. Saute until they start to take on color. Add bay leaves and garlic. After two minutes (or if the garlic starts to burn) work in the tomato paste and add the vegan wine. Reduce by three-quarters.
2.) Add the lentils and enough broth to cover with a couple inches of liquid. Simmer uncovered, periodically stirring and adding enough broth (or water, if you run out of broth) to cover.
3.) The soup should cook for about 40 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Add enough water for your desired consistency. Add a couple tablespoons of crushed thyme or oregano, and season to taste with pepper. If your broth is sodium-free you can add salt, but be careful- a lot of vegetable broth contain a lot of salt! Stir in a heaping spoonful of Dijon mustard and serve immediately.
Hope you enjoy! Pair it with some barley or rice for complete protein, or maybe just a big hunk of country bread. Even if you're not a huge mustard fan, please try the Dijon; my boyfriend hates mustard but he loves the perfume it gives this soup. The mustard, the vegan red wine, and the thyme really give it a French-y taste. Bon appetit!
SO HOW'D IT GO?
Wonderful lentil recipe! I had to add 4 extra cups of broth to keep it a soup instead of a side dish (which is good too). I totally forgot to add the mustard at the end 'cause I was so eager to eat! I'll have to remember it for the left overs. ;)
I didn't follow the recipe exactly, but used most of the same ingredients and went with the French *theme*. Loved it! Mine turned out kind of like a hearty veggie stew - and the dijon mustard was the kicker, added just the right amount of je ne sais quoi ;)) Yum.
I think the "sorted and rinsed" means sort out any bad lentils and/or small stones, then rinse.
Hey, this is probably a stupid question but I don't cook too much...
when you say "sorted" lentils you just mean a variety of colors, right? Like brown, red, green, etc?
Let me know when you get a chance (or if anyone else knows on here).
Thanks!
:)This recipe was great!!!! the dijon mustard really added a great depth of flavor.
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