This soup is an excellent choice in the cold days of the year, especially when the body needs a warm and energizing food, and it even has a special place in Ramadan iftar tables.
The best: Lentil soup is one of those traditional and delicious dishes that is both simple to prepare and considered a complete and nutritious meal due to the presence of lentils, fresh vegetables, rice and aromatic spices. This soup is an excellent choice in the cold days of the year, especially when the body needs a warm and energizing food, and it even has a special place in Ramadan iftar tables.
The combination of lentils with coriander, parsley, onion and garlic, in addition to the pleasant taste, provides the body with various nutrients such as vegetable protein, fiber, iron and vitamins. The secret of the deliciousness of lentil soup is in its glaze, the use of plenty of hot onions and the ingredients are gently placed together.
This soup can be served with curd, yogurt, sour buttermilk or even a little hot mint, and depending on the taste, it can be made in different ways, such as lentil soup with flour, lentil soup without rice, lentil soup with bulgur, or even lentil soup with meat.
Necessary ingredients for preparing lentil soup (for 4 to 6 people)
- Lentils: 1 cup
- Half-grain rice: 1 cup
- Chopped fresh coriander: 60 grams
- Fresh chopped parsley: 60 grams
- Medium onion: 2 pcs
- Garlic: 3 to 4 cloves
- Water: about 2 liters
- Turmeric: 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper: as much as needed
- Salt: as much as needed
- Oil: as much as needed
To decorate:
- hot mint
- Curd
- Yogurt or sour buttermilk
- Add hot onion
- A little pepper or mint powder
How to prepare lentil soup step by step
the first stage; Prepare lentils and rice
First clean and wash the lentils. It is better to soak lentils and rice separately in water for about an hour so that they cook faster and the soup has a better texture.
In the meantime, cut the onions into wedges and fry them in a pot with a little oil until they become light and golden. Then add turmeric and black pepper and fry a little until the aroma of the spices is released.
Add chopped garlic and fry for a few seconds; Be careful not to burn the garlic because it makes the soup bitter.
the second stage; Cooking lentils and rice
Keep half of the hot onion and garlic for cooking and pour the rest into the main pot. Add about 2 liters of water and let it boil.
Add the soaked lentils and let it simmer on medium heat. Then add the rice and reduce the heat until the rice opens and gives a glaze to the soup.
At this stage, you have to stir the soup every few minutes so that the rice does not stick.
the third stage; Add vegetables
When the lentils and rice are fully cooked and the soup thickens a bit, add the chopped greens such as coriander and parsley.
Add salt at this stage and let the soup simmer for another 30 minutes.
The slower the soup boils, the more glazed it will be and the tastier it will be.
the last stage; Serve lentil soup
When the soup reaches the right consistency, pour it into a serving dish and garnish with hot mint, hot onion, curd or yogurt.
Your delicious lentil soup is ready; A warm, simple and memorable dish that is wonderful for the cold days of the year.
How to prepare lentil soup without rice
If you don’t like to use rice in the soup, you can remove it. For this model, cook the lentils separately and after they become soft, combine them with hot onions, garlic, spices and greens.
To make the soup without rice have a good glaze, you can add a little wheat flour dissolved in cold water or some rolled oats.
How to prepare lentil soup with wheat semolina
Lentil and bulghur soup is one of the traditional and nutritious models of this dish, which is known as a local soup in some regions.
To prepare it:
- Remove the rice.
- Add about a cup of semolina instead.
- Cook lentils and bulgur with hot onions and spices.
- At the end, add spinach or greens.
Adding a little grated small potato also makes the soup more glazed.
Photo ovens make delicious lentil soup
- A lot of hot onion is one of the main secrets of the deliciousness of lentil soup. The better the onion is golden, the better the taste of the soup will be.
- If you like the soup to have a stronger taste, you can use a little water.
- Adding a few drops of lemon juice when serving makes the taste of the soup more attractive.
- If the soup is too thin, give it some time to drain the excess water.
- For more glaze, you can dissolve a tablespoon of flour in cold water and add it to the soup at the end of cooking.
- It is better to add salt near the end of cooking so that the lentils do not overcook.
- If you don’t like the taste of coriander, you can use a combination of parsley, spinach and a little leek.
- Adding a little oats next to the lentils makes the soup stronger and thicker.
What should we serve lentil soup with?
Lentil soup is usually served with curd, hot mint, hot onion, yogurt or sour buttermilk. Some people add a little red pepper or watercress to it for a different taste.
This simple and old soup, despite the availability of raw materials, is one of the dishes that still maintains its place in Iranian tables; A dish whose aroma of hot onions and fresh herbs reminds many of home and the cold days of the past.
