Lentil Soup (Shorabat Addas)... the directions right on the package!

I used to work for a family in which the mother was vegetarian.  She made meat for the kids of course, but she had a real way of making things with lentils... delicious!  She also made homemade healthy popsicles for the kids.  If you can put spinach in a popsicle and make it taste good with mango, that's pretty awesome.

Back to the lentils.  What I made this recipe from was Ziyad Brand Red Lentils in a 16 oz. bag.  Like I said, you can follow the recipe on the back so you don't have to have crazy Mediterranean cooking skills!  I did add some more spice and changed a few things because I found the recipe as is, was a little, ok a lot BLAND.

Here's the ingredients you will need for the recipe listed on the package:

• Ziyad Red Lentils (measured dry), 2 cup
• Water, tap, 8 cup (8 fl oz)
• Cumin - ground (1 tsp), 0.5 tsp
• Turmeric or Paprika ground, 1 tsp
• Onions, raw, 1 cup, chopped  
• Garlic, 2 cloves
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tbsp
• Lemon Juice, 1 lemon yields
• Chicken bullion 1tsp, 4 tsp- watch for MSG people!

The magic ingredient I found to use that made all the difference was Garam Masala.  You can get this at your local Indian Grocery in a big bag and it's a great addition to all kinds of things.  I didn't have paprika, so it wasn't in my recipe and if you're putting Garam Masala you can skip the cumin too, because it's in the Garam Masala.

Ok, you want to know what the Garam Masala is.  Here's what the SWAD brand contains:  Coriander, Red Chili, Cumin, Clove, Anistar, Mace, Fennel, Black Pepper, Bay Leaves, Cinnamon, Dry Mango, Salt, Clove Leaves.  You'll probably fall in love with it as I have!

Add more chili powder to your lentil soup as well for a spicier flavor.

The directions are as follows:

1. wash lentils use a small strainer because these are very tiny little beans.  you can also use a bowl and just swish them around.  If there's water left on them, they're going into a pot of water anyway so don't sweat it!

2. combine with broth and boil. Cover for 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally.

3. when lentils are tender, add dry spices and bouillon (optional) to the pot. 

4. saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until golden brown. Then add to soup. 

5. simmer for 5 minutes. Then turn off heat, add lemon juice and sit. 

6. garnish with parsley and paprika if you want, serve with lemon wedges on the side. 

Start out with the basics and follow the recipe as is on the package, lucky for you if you don't have a lentil soup recipe on your package of beans, you have a kitchen bitch to help you!  Play with the ingredients and add fresh herbs if you have them.  Parsley would probably taste good.  I like to put dill in almost everything, maybe you could try that here.  I'm sure cilantro would work too and go nicely with the spice powders.  

Also if you have a package of chicken broth, or a can, that would work, and I'm sure adding chicken to this soup would work out just fine too.  Go crazy with your bean self!