Very little is more satisfying than sitting down to a steaming hot bowl of great soup and salad. Most people tend to buy them premade at the store in a can. These are fine but not nearly as healthy or flavorful as making it from scratch. If you make it yourself, you can control the ingredients and know what you are getting. Learning to make easy lentil soup is one way to get a great meal without a ton of effort in cooking extra ingredients.
Most soups are healthy. The various lentils are even more so. They usually consist of several different vegetables mixed into a broth. They can also be made in vegan varieties. This is easily done because most recipes do not call for any meat to be added. The beans themselves provide a great source of protein for the diet. These are recommended for people with health issues that prevent them from digesting meats. It is also great for diabetics that need a healthier diet.
Lentils do not need to be soaked prior to cooking. There are many different types of beans that do need to be presoaked for hours before cooking them with the other ingredients, lentils do not fall into that category. It doesn't hurt them to be soaked if you want them to be even softer after cooking. Soaking them does make it easier to digest or if you plan on blending the mix when it is done.
There are several different styles and methods for these soups. Some like them to be more like a vegetable soup with more broth and nothing blended or pureed. Others may prefer a thicker version. The health benefits stay pretty much the same, so it is just a matter of personal preference. Thicker versions are great with grilled cheese sandwiches, while the soupier versions are better with other types of bread such as cornbread or other muffins.
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.
Blending is an option. Some may want to gently use an immersion blender, but the better option is using the kind with a lid to avoid burns from splattering hot liquid. Blending gives you a nice thick version that is great for dipping grilled cheese sandwiches into. The lighter, non-blended version is great with oyster crackers or other bread to dip.
Side dishes enhance any meal. Soups go great with a nice, crispy fresh salad. Some will enjoy being able to dip Naan bread or cornbread into the dish. Crackers help thicken it and add a slight salt flavoring.
Most people enjoy one kind of soup or another. Using lentils as a base will provide a tasty and healthy base for any snack or meal. Including a side bread for dipping makes it filling and provides a nice rounded meal. There are lots of versions from green to brown to red that can be made in a thick stew or vegetable soup type of dish.
Most soups are healthy. The various lentils are even more so. They usually consist of several different vegetables mixed into a broth. They can also be made in vegan varieties. This is easily done because most recipes do not call for any meat to be added. The beans themselves provide a great source of protein for the diet. These are recommended for people with health issues that prevent them from digesting meats. It is also great for diabetics that need a healthier diet.
Lentils do not need to be soaked prior to cooking. There are many different types of beans that do need to be presoaked for hours before cooking them with the other ingredients, lentils do not fall into that category. It doesn't hurt them to be soaked if you want them to be even softer after cooking. Soaking them does make it easier to digest or if you plan on blending the mix when it is done.
There are several different styles and methods for these soups. Some like them to be more like a vegetable soup with more broth and nothing blended or pureed. Others may prefer a thicker version. The health benefits stay pretty much the same, so it is just a matter of personal preference. Thicker versions are great with grilled cheese sandwiches, while the soupier versions are better with other types of bread such as cornbread or other muffins.
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.
Blending is an option. Some may want to gently use an immersion blender, but the better option is using the kind with a lid to avoid burns from splattering hot liquid. Blending gives you a nice thick version that is great for dipping grilled cheese sandwiches into. The lighter, non-blended version is great with oyster crackers or other bread to dip.
Side dishes enhance any meal. Soups go great with a nice, crispy fresh salad. Some will enjoy being able to dip Naan bread or cornbread into the dish. Crackers help thicken it and add a slight salt flavoring.
Most people enjoy one kind of soup or another. Using lentils as a base will provide a tasty and healthy base for any snack or meal. Including a side bread for dipping makes it filling and provides a nice rounded meal. There are lots of versions from green to brown to red that can be made in a thick stew or vegetable soup type of dish.
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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.
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