LEBANESE LEMON LENTIL SOUP

Lebanese Lemon Lentil Soup image

This wonderful comfort soup is a balance of lemon, salt, heat, and savory herbs. Serve it on a cold day. Can be made vegan, vegetarian, or with chicken easily.

Provided by Debra Fox Sullivan

Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beans and Peas Lentil Soup Recipes

Time 2h5m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 stalks celery with leaves, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic
6 cups water
2 cups French green lentils
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon salt, or more to taste
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 lemon, cut into wedges
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, celery, and carrots until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add water, lentils, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, salt, coriander, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; stir to incorporate. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 hours.
Whisk butter and flour together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; stir constantly until thickened and paste-like, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes, until light brown, about 20 more minutes. Whisk flour paste into finished soup, a spoonful at a time, until smooth and creamy. Serve with lemon wedges, 2 tablespoons parsley, and a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 267.6 calories, Carbohydrate 37.8 g, Cholesterol 12.2 mg, Fat 8.2 g, Fiber 13.9 g, Protein 12 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 755.2 mg, Sugar 2.2 g