C’est moi! Yes, your prodigal sweet-toothed blogging friend has finally returned after what has proved to be a wonderful yet insanely busy summer. My thanks to all those who have read/written/stayed tuned… and my humble apologies for the extended and unforseen period of absence. This year has flown by! Autumn is here, and its pretty colours and increasingly colder days hail my favourite time of the year for making, baking, cooking and cosying up.
And what is autumn without delicious homemade soup? I am happy to kick off my short series of autumn-inspired blog posts with this hearty lentil soup recipe (my personal fave for 2013!)…
DELICIOUS GREEN LENTIL & VEGGIE SOUP
Makes approx. 5 liters
INGREDIENTS
A couple of tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3-4 carrots* (depending on size), peeled and chopped
3-4 celery stalks (depending on size), peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1.5 tsp salt
2 small tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
6 dl green (or brown) lentils
2 tsp dried thyme
2 small bay leaves
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 l water (plus more if needed)
8 organic vegetable stock cubes (1 stock cube per 500 ml water, or as per directions to make 4 l of liquid stock)
3-4 teaspoons red wine vinegar
*pumpkin & sweet potato would be lovely too!
DIRECTIONS
- Heat a large soup pot over high heat. Add the olive oil, then onion, carrots, celery, garlic and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Turn heat to low and sauté the veggies for about 5 minutes until they are lightly caramelised. Add the tomato and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for a further 2 minutes.
- Add the lentils, thyme, bay leaf, pepper and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Add the water and stock cubes, bringing the soup to a boil and skimming and discarding any foam that collects on the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the lentils are tender.
- Stir in the vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If desired, the soup may be thinned with additional water or stock to achieve a lighter consistency. Serve hot… with a yummy toasted sandwich, if you like!
*This soup freezes and defrosts perfectly!
*Recipe very closely adapted from this one, originally found at marthastewart.com and sourced from Mad Hungry, September 2010.
As I read your post, I am smelling the vegetable stock simmering in my kitchen. I love autumn simply because I know that soups will be on the menu in most homes. There is sometime comforting and welcoming about a bowl of soup after a walk in the brisk air! This one looks absolutely yummy!! 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂 Soup is so comforting! It is getting so cold here already and the days are getting darker… but if I tell my friends that I have soup on the stove, they are more than happy to venture out, it seems x
Welcome back! You’ve been missed :o) Glad to hear you’ve been having a good summer though. Looking forward to more of your fabulous posts. This soup sounds divine.
Thank you so much! 🙂 x
This reminded of one of the best soups I’ve ever eaten. It was lentil soup in a little cafe near Hampstead Heath in the winter and it was the perfect thing for a cold day 🙂
Lentil soup is certainly hearty and delicious…we just had it the other week! Your version looks wonderful! Welcome back!
Your’e so sweet! Thank you 🙂 Glad you’ve been enjoying lentil soup too!
A perfect way to start your autumn posts. Love the little graphics around your bowl of steaming soup. Glad you have had a great summer and it is lovely to be able to read your blogs again. I am quite overwhelmed with your dedicated catching up with my blogs. Thank you 🙂
Hello! Thank you :)! I have missed you and your lovely writing! Have even more catching up to do on your blog … Hopefully tonight 🙂
Hope life’s treating you kindly xx
Mostly very kindly 🙂
Looks soo good!! Have a great autumn!
Thank you, Sofia! You too 🙂
Hello again! Great looking soup. How’s that sweet baby doing?
Hi Mimi! Thanks 🙂 I missed you! Baby is doing great, thank you! Her first tooth started making an appearance today!!! 😀 Will be visiting your blog again soon! Lots of catching up to do!
I love lentil soup. Yours looks just perfect!
Thanks so much, Francesca! 🙂 x
Lovely! Lentil soup is the way to go made one of my own t’other day. Great minds! Lovely to have you back and blogging 🙂
Thanks so much 🙂 Was lovely to visit your blog and catch up on what you’ve been doing 🙂
Dear MM, first of all, good to see you back! 🙂
Your soup looks great and so do your food photography and your skills as an illustrator: I love the Fall decorations and writing on the dish! Very cool! 🙂
Thanks so much, Stefano! Very kind of you! 🙂
Welcome back, lovely lentil soup, thanks!
Thanks so much! I am really impressed by your recent culinary work! Wow! 🙂
Thanks, I look forward to see your fantastic post soon. 🙂
Yum! A healthy and delicious soup! :3
Thank you 🙂
This looks perfect for a chilly day! Yum!
So good to have you back!!! And this lentil soup takes me straight back to being a child…down to the vinegar you add (as kids we were always allowed to stir the vinegar in on our own plates after it was ladled out)
Oh, that’s so sweet! This is the first soup I have made to which vinegar is added and it really does heighten and enhance the other flavours. x
I love love love lentil soup and your one looks especially good. I can never resist putting lots of curry powder in mine though…
I love a good soup in the fall! Lentils have recently become a favorite of mine, this soup looks fantastic!
Thank you :)! Lentils are a fave for me too 🙂
wonderful! this looks autumn perfect – just want to curl up with a mug of it now 🙂
thanks Bec 🙂 x
What a lovely one pot meal soup, very nutritious & very filling too! I love it. MMMMMMMM. I missed your tasty recipes, my dear friend 😀😀
so sweet, Sophie :)! Thank you! I missed reading yours while I was away! xxx
YUM! So making this, even though it’s summer here.
Ps. Been missing your more regular posts!
I confess, I was eating thins soup during summer here too! I have made it a LOT this year! Hope you like it 🙂
I am looking forward to a cosy couple of months ahead and more blogging/wp blog reading 🙂 x
Like everyone else here, I have missed you! Glad to read this fun post– especially the “cozying up” part. This soup looks like a perfect Sunday night dinner. thanks…
Thank you so much, Rhonda! It was wonderful to jump back on and start to catch up on all your great posts and recipes 🙂 x
Nice reading about you
Thanks for visiting my blog. Be in touch. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may find something of your interest.
It may not be so wonderful in a few months, but for now the cooler weather, warm soups/stews, and cozy sweaters are so much fun. Actually, warm soups/stews are always welcome. Its the snow and slush that isn’t! 🙂 I really appreciate vegetarian soup recipes! Your lentil soup looks filling and delicious! Thanks and welcome back. 🙂
Totally agree! Not a fan of the snow and slush, but the coziness of this time of year is lovely 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment! All the best to you and yours x
yum!! this looks like the perfect cool weather warmer! 🙂