Fix A Great And Quick Meal With Easy Lentil Soup

By Roger Peterson


Normally soups take a long time to simmer and cook to perfection. But not easy lentil soup. The lentils cook in about 35 minutes, and long simmering is not necessary with the strong aromatics most cooks include. The soup is served in almost every culture. The subtle differences are due to the different spices and aromatics used.

The nutrition supplied by lentils is better than most any food. Calorie consumption is low, it low fat, and has lots of essential vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists tout lentils as a very high nutrient. They are great for vegans and for those requiring to be gluten-free. They are high fiber, and with the vegetables, herbs and spices that are high in antioxidants, they have an added bonus.

The nutrient content of lentils make them very desirable and recommended by many nutritionists. They supply vital minerals, such as iron, phosphorus, and zinc. These are often hard to incorporate into the regular diet of many people. They are also very high in many B vitamins, vital to good health. All this makes them a healthy food that is beneficial in the diet.

Lentils have a very mild flavor, many people claim no flavor at all. This makes it possible to make the lentil soup with ethnic flavors. Any strong spices and aromatics give it a different flavor. There is Thai, Italian, Lebanese, Indian, Mexican, Ethiopian, American, and just a strongly flavored soup with lots of EVOO to give it flavor.

If you prefer a more stew-like soup, then letting it cook until it has less liquid, then leaving the vegetables in chunks will give it that consistency. To make it more soupy or creamy, add extra liquids and pulverizing it with a stick blender. It can be make more liquid with stocks, water, or coconut milk. The versatility of lentils gives many options.

The intense flavor of lentil soup is from the aromatics and spices used. They give a variety of flavor based on what you use. Aromatics such as celery, onions, garlic, peppers, and ginger give it a unique flavor to match any ethnicity flavor. Using EVOO, steam the vegetables slightly just until soft and the flavors are intensified. Onions should just be turning translucent. Additionally, add spices and steam then until their aroma and flavor intensify.

Tomatoes are sometimes used but not always. Roasted tomatoes give a richer flavor than just plain steamed or raw ones. Tomatoes are common in some cultures for any soups, but they can sort of overtake the other flavors if not used judiciously. Try making it both ways and decide whether you like it or not. Vary the amount used until you reach what is agreeable to you.

The stock or cooking liquid used also adds extra flavor. Stocks include chicken, vegetable, and beef stocks, in addition to certain amounts of water. Another liquid that gives lots of a special flavor is coconut milk. When cooking, keep a pot of stock heating on the back of the stove. As it looks dry, add some of the hot liquid, unless you wish it to be extra thick.




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