Soups are a great way to enjoy a meal and relax with great flavor. They are also simple to make and enjoyed by pretty much everyone. Making a healthy stew is something of an art form but can be done with a little preparation and planning. Making an easy lentil soup provides excellent nutrition and a hearty meal that will fill you up. The ingredients are all fresh and healthy and it can be done in different forms that appeal to different palates.
Soups are generally very healthy meals. Using lentils makes it even more nutritious because it consists of various vegetables, broth, and protein-rich beans. Since it is made without meat, it can be made for vegans as well. For people with health issues, this type of meal is a great source of vitamins.
How long should you soak the lentils? This is probably the most asked question about making these soups. The answer is that you do not have to soak them at all if you don't want. They are already soft enough that the time they cook will soften them plenty. However, if you want to make them even more easy to digest, you could soak them in water for an hour or two before making the meal. Again, this isn't required, so you can simply put all the ingredients together if you didn't plan ahead of time.
Some prefer a thicker version while others like the vegetable soup version. It is easy to make the thicker version. You can just put the finished product into the blender. Be very careful about this since it may still be hot. It is best to let it cool a bit and make sure the lid is tight to prevent the hot liquid from splattering. Other people enjoy a thinner version where all the vegetables are still in their larger versions so they have the satisfaction of having something to bite into.
A lot of different ingredients can be added. Lentils are the basic form, but adding other vegetables enriches the flavor. Some will use things like chopped celery, diced carrots, onions, and include spices like oregano, a dry bay leaf, and basil for flavoring. Diced or stewed tomatoes are great to add because they thicken it up and add a great flavor to the mix. Spinach is also a great addition for the iron and other benefits that it offers.
To blend or not to blend? There are two thoughts here, and both are valid. Some enjoy the thicker version that is blended with the stewed tomatoes. This provides a nice thick stew that goes down smooth. The non-blended version is much like vegetable soup for those that like to add crackers to their bowl. The vegetables are all visible and the stock is a clear broth. Both styles are delicious. Be cautious when blending any hot mixture to avoid burns.
You can serve the meal with different types of bread. Some enjoy a good Naan bread or English muffins. Others prefer cornbread and heartier flavors. Still more enjoy adding oyster crackers to their bowl. These are also great with a fresh garden salad with some nice dressing on the side.
Soups are something that most people enjoy in many different forms. With lentils as the primary ingredient, you can be assured of having a nice protein-rich meal without having to add meat. With salads or bread as the sides, it will make a whole filling meal. Carefully using a blender can turn the clear version into a nice thick stew that goes well with other sides.
Soups are generally very healthy meals. Using lentils makes it even more nutritious because it consists of various vegetables, broth, and protein-rich beans. Since it is made without meat, it can be made for vegans as well. For people with health issues, this type of meal is a great source of vitamins.
How long should you soak the lentils? This is probably the most asked question about making these soups. The answer is that you do not have to soak them at all if you don't want. They are already soft enough that the time they cook will soften them plenty. However, if you want to make them even more easy to digest, you could soak them in water for an hour or two before making the meal. Again, this isn't required, so you can simply put all the ingredients together if you didn't plan ahead of time.
Some prefer a thicker version while others like the vegetable soup version. It is easy to make the thicker version. You can just put the finished product into the blender. Be very careful about this since it may still be hot. It is best to let it cool a bit and make sure the lid is tight to prevent the hot liquid from splattering. Other people enjoy a thinner version where all the vegetables are still in their larger versions so they have the satisfaction of having something to bite into.
A lot of different ingredients can be added. Lentils are the basic form, but adding other vegetables enriches the flavor. Some will use things like chopped celery, diced carrots, onions, and include spices like oregano, a dry bay leaf, and basil for flavoring. Diced or stewed tomatoes are great to add because they thicken it up and add a great flavor to the mix. Spinach is also a great addition for the iron and other benefits that it offers.
To blend or not to blend? There are two thoughts here, and both are valid. Some enjoy the thicker version that is blended with the stewed tomatoes. This provides a nice thick stew that goes down smooth. The non-blended version is much like vegetable soup for those that like to add crackers to their bowl. The vegetables are all visible and the stock is a clear broth. Both styles are delicious. Be cautious when blending any hot mixture to avoid burns.
You can serve the meal with different types of bread. Some enjoy a good Naan bread or English muffins. Others prefer cornbread and heartier flavors. Still more enjoy adding oyster crackers to their bowl. These are also great with a fresh garden salad with some nice dressing on the side.
Soups are something that most people enjoy in many different forms. With lentils as the primary ingredient, you can be assured of having a nice protein-rich meal without having to add meat. With salads or bread as the sides, it will make a whole filling meal. Carefully using a blender can turn the clear version into a nice thick stew that goes well with other sides.
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To prepare an easy lentil soup, simply get the recipe from our website. Take a look at the yummiest selection of soups we have listed here at http://www.yummygoodness.com/lentil-soup.
