Very Green Lentil Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients
    2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    2 large yellow onions, chopped
    1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
    2 tablespoons water, plus
    4 cups water, divided
    1 cup green lentils or 1 cup brown lentils
    8 large chard leaves
    1 medium yukon gold potato, scrubbed
    10 ounces spinach leaves, any tough stems removed
    4 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
    2 cups broccoli, chopped
    1 tablespoon cumin seed, toasted and ground
    1/2 teaspoon coriander
    1 cup cilantro, chopped
    2 tablespoons mint, chopped
    1/2 jalapeno pepper, minced
    black pepper, to taste
    1 tablespoon lemon juice (to taste)
    feta cheese, crumbled for garnish
Preparation
    Heat 2 T oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onions and 1/4 t salt; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add 2 T water and cover. Cook, stirring frequently until the pan cools down, and then occasionally, always covering the pan again, until the onions are greatly reduced and have a deep caramel color, 25-35 minutes.
    MEANWHILE, rinse lentils and pick out any small stones; combine the lentils with the remaining 4 cups water in a soup pot or dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Trim the white ribs out of the chard; chop the greens and slice the ribs (keep in separate piles). Cut potato into 1/2-inch dice. Chop spinach; set aside.
    When the lentils have cooked for 20 minutes, stir in the chard ribs, potato, scallions, broth and the remaining 1t salt; return to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
    Stir in the chard leaves, broccoli, cumin and coriander. When the onions are caramelized, stir a little of the simmering liquid into them, add them to the soup. Return to a simmer, cover and cook 5 minutes more. Stir in the reserved spinach, cilantro, mint, jalapeno ad pepper; return to a simmer, cover and cook until the spinach is tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes more. Stir in 1T lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or pepper, if desired.
    Garnish each bowl of soup with crumbled feta cheese.

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