Mediterranean Red Lentil Soup

As promised in my earlier post I am here with the Mediterranean Red Lentil Soup. This is a perfect time to share this warming recipe since we are now ready to set in the winter soon. Red lentil soup is a Turkish/ Greek favorite and served in most restaurants. Most households in Mediterranean region consume this soup. This is another simple, yet delicious recipe. Red lentils are a good source of protein, dietary fibre and iron similar to beans. Lentils are great soup material, adding wonderful richness and protein.

Ingredient:
For two serving


Red lentils:                               1/2 cup               
Onion:                                     1/2 medium sized
Carrot:                                    1 small
Tomato or pepper paste:         1 tablespoon (substitute:  1 small tomato)
Garlic:                                     1 small clove
Butter:                                     1/2 tablespoon
Salt to taste
Crushed white pepper
3 cups of water
Lime juice

For the garnish sauce:
Olive oil/ butter:                         1 tablespoon
Paprika Powder:                       1 teaspoon

Lemon wedges

Method:

1) Heat some butter in a saucepan/ pressure cooker. Add garlic, onion and toss for a minute till it sweats. Add tomato or its paste.  Stir it for half a minute.

2) Add the other ingredient like carrot and red lentil. Season it with salt and pepper. Add water and let it cook till soft. In pressure cooker the process is faster.

3) Let it cool and blend it in a food processor. 

4) Adjust the consistency of soup if required. Boil it in the pan again. Add lime juice.

5) Before serving garnish it with the chilli oil. 

6) For the garnish heat some butter in a pan. Once fuming close the flame and add paprika powder. Spoon it over the hot soup. Serve it hot with some lime wedges.

BON APPETIT...

Dal Ki Dulhan ( Red lentil soup with floating dumplings)

Presenting- "Dal ki Dulhan"  Sounds like a total Bollywood "masala" film. Well this is no "masala" film but a "masala" soup. Soup with few spices and floating dumplings which make it a full meal. Its velvety texture and delicate hues are comforting reminders of my childhood. This recipe is very quick to make and really filling to stomach. You can find red lentil soup in mediterranean cuisine also. I hope to share that recipe soon with you all. For the time being lets enjoy the Indian version of it.

Ingredients:

Red lentil:                 1cup
Wheat flour:             2 cups
Onion:                     1 small
Garlic:                      3-4 cloves
Black peppercorn:   1/2 spoon
Dried red Chili :       2 nos
Cumin seed :           1/2 spoon
Black cardamom:    1 small
Turmeric:                1/2 spoon
Salt to taste
Refined oil:             2 spoon
Lemon Juice           2 spoon
Clarified butter:       1 spoon
Lemon wedges

Method:
1) Pressure cook the red lentil with salt, turmeric and water. You can use a normal pan also to cook the lentil.
2) Grind onion, garlic, black peppercorn, red chili and black cardamom to a fine wet paste.
3) Heat some oil in a pan and add the paste. Fry it till til golden brown. Pour the cooked lentil in the pan and mix well. Add some water to get the correct consistency and let it boil.
4) Meanwhile knead the dough using water and wheat flour. Roll it in a medium thin sheet. Use a round cookies cutter to make small circles out of flour sheet. Put diagonally opposite sides of the circle together to make a star like structure.
5) Keep adding these small flour dumplings to the boiling soup. Boil the soup for another 2-3 mins after putting the last dumpling.
6)Turn off the heat and add clarified butter and lemon juice.
7)Pour it in a flat soup bowl and serve it with fresh mint leaves and lemon wedges.

BON APPETIT....