Lentil Soup
- Thread starter Orang Utan
- Start date
story
Changing the facts
On the subject of delicious lentil dishes…
One of my all time favourite dishes in the whole world is Mujaddara. And I’m not alone in this. It’s the mess of pottage for which Esau swapped his birthright.
Like any of these simple dishes, a significant proportion of the deliciousness comes from the skill and experience of the cook. How else to explain how rice-and-lentils is so soul-singingly good?
One of my all time favourite dishes in the whole world is Mujaddara. And I’m not alone in this. It’s the mess of pottage for which Esau swapped his birthright.
Like any of these simple dishes, a significant proportion of the deliciousness comes from the skill and experience of the cook. How else to explain how rice-and-lentils is so soul-singingly good?
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Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
yes, but you're on a thread in Suburban75 asking for recipes. We like cooking in this subforum. Cooking is a delight not an inconvenience
moonsi til
worked it out now!
I like a Scottish lentil soup with potatoes.
bcuster
Well-Known Member
That's true.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
What recipe do you favour?
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
We all saddened that danny la rouge has ten posters ignoring him but there may be better, more inclusive , ways to help him become accustomed to that than liking his food recipes.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
Everyone likes my soup.
Is adding potatoes a Scottish thing..?
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
how do you know this/find out?
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
until the poison takes hold of them...
moonsi til
worked it out now!
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
potato is a good thickener, so it would make a thrifty soup go even further
SysOut
¯¯¯
The only difficulty I've had was lentils (brown/green) taking too long to cook because, I think, of adding something acidy to them before they were properly cooked,
Best soak before, I suppose, to be sure.
story
Changing the facts
I started out with the recipe in Diet for a Small Planet, a book I used a lot before the internet.
Recipe is here
I‘ve strayed from this and made my own adjustments over the years, and read and tried versions I’ve seen online and had it cooked by other people. I’ve had bad versions, and fantastic versions I’ve tried and failed to recreate. Like any of these traditional ancient dishes I wouldn’t say there’s a definitve version. But that one I’ve linked to is the first one I had cooked for me, and it inspired me to buy the book and make it myself.
This looks like a good step by step guide too. More detail than the one above
Authentic Mujadara (Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions) | The Mediterranean Dish
Mujadara is a signature Middle Eastern dish of lentils and rice w/ crispy fried onions. Popular flavor-packed dish. Makes for a healthy feast! Vegan, GF
www.themediterraneandish.com
ETA
It may be nostalgia and association because this is the way I had it the very first time: my favourite accompaniment for this dish is just crispy cos lettuce with olive oil and lemon dressing.
Johnny Vodka
The Abominable Scotsman
Harira (Moroccan soup) can be pretty good, though will be similar to M.E. soups mentioned in this thread.
I grew up in a poor household. Have always had that in mind - can't bear to throw food away, always looking for cheaper ways to do stuff, I repair what I can, never buy new if the old item still works.As an aside, I sometimes feel like I've absorbed my parents post-war (they were both born during it) make do and mend, rationing mindset when it comes to cooking.Anyone else? (I mean my Mum would be horrified that I can't tell you the exact price of stuff or that I don't go to about three different shops because there's a 2p price difference on something or whatever but still...)
Anyhoo, here's my recipe for Egyptian lentil soup. I use red lentils for all lentilly soups and dhals cos they cook really quickly.
2 onions
4 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
350g split red lentils
1.5 litres vegetable stock
Fresh lemon juice (to taste)
1. Rinse lentils until water mostly clear and drain.
2. Chop onions and fry gently in olive oil until soft and just beginning to colour.
3. Stir in the garlic, cumin and coriander.
4. Add lentils and the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 30–40 minutes, or until the lentils have disintegrated.
5. No need to blend the soup – keep stirring so the lentils break down.
6. Taste and season the soup. Add the lemon juice before serving (a bit at a time until it’s to your tastes).
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
I’ll be trying that. Cheers.I started out with the recipe in Diet for a Small Planet, a book I used a lot before the internet.
Recipe is here
I‘ve strayed from this and made my own adjustments over the years, and read and tried versions I’ve seen online and had it cooked by other people. I’ve had bad versions, and fantastic versions I’ve tried and failed to recreate. Like any of these traditional ancient dishes I wouldn’t say there’s a definitve version. But that one I’ve linked to is the first one I had cooked for me, and it inspired me to buy the book and make it myself.
This looks like a good step by step guide too. More detail than the one above
Authentic Mujadara (Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions) | The Mediterranean Dish
Mujadara is a signature Middle Eastern dish of lentils and rice w/ crispy fried onions. Popular flavor-packed dish. Makes for a healthy feast! Vegan, GF
ETA
It may be nostalgia and association because this is the way I had it the very first time: my favourite accompaniment for this dish is just crispy cos lettuce with olive oil and lemon dressing.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
This is nice
www.recipetineats.com
Lentil Soup (seriously amazing!)
Don't settle for a bland Lentil Soup. Just a few little tips make all the difference, and you'll have everyone begging for seconds .... and thirds!
www.recipetineats.com
Also, tinned soup is more like a punishment than a food. Makes me feel nauseous just thinking about it.
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
I forgot. I put bay leaves in mine too.This is nice
Lentil Soup (seriously amazing!)
Don't settle for a bland Lentil Soup. Just a few little tips make all the difference, and you'll have everyone begging for seconds .... and thirds!
Sometimes a touch of mustard also. Many years ago I had a French friend who told me she always used mustard when cooking lentils, as they’re apparently a “married couple”, and it’s a tip I usually follow, but not always with soups.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
I can't bring myself to buy soup. It's so cheap to make and so much tastier than bought soup.
I've been making pea soup lately as it's so simple and cheap. Frozen peas, onions, a couple of potatoes thrown in for texture and a teaspoon of mint sauce at the end. Delicious!
I've been making pea soup lately as it's so simple and cheap. Frozen peas, onions, a couple of potatoes thrown in for texture and a teaspoon of mint sauce at the end. Delicious!
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
When I remember, if I have the oven on for something I roast a bulb of garlic at the same time so I can make pea soup. You just blend or mash it in and it transforms it. Delicious!
I do tend to keep a few tins in cupboard just in case. (l live on my own so good to have a few easy things if I'm ill or whatever.)
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
This, tinned soup is for when I am ill. I usually keep some tins in for that reason.
I can feel a lentil soup coming on thanks to this thread, we need to not be too spendy this week so a big vat of soup and some bread is a great idea, and the Egyptian lentil soup (which seems to be the same as the middle eastern one others are going on about) will fit the bill nicely.
