Lentil Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup lentils, rinsed
4 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons light olive oil
2 celery ribs, diced
1 carrot, diced
1/4 onion, diced
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon garlic
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 pinch cayenne (optional)
salt, to taste

Preparation

in a 3-quarte saucepan, combine the lentils and the vegetable broth. bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for one hour or until lentils are tender.
in a 2-quart saucepan, saute the celery, carrots and onions in the oil until tender. reduce heat to low.
on reduced heat, add the flour, garlic, thyme, and cayenne and continue to saute for 2 minute
add sauteed vegetables and tomatoe paste to the cooked lentils.
simmer for 5 minutes.
add salt to taste.