lentils – The Vegan Love Project

Hearty Lentil Farrow Vegetable Soup

Hearty Lentil Farrow Vegetable Soup

Whenever I am need of warming up, this is the meal I make. It is so simple and so very satisfying. Torn bread with olive oil or vegan butter makes this a perfect spread. Brown lentils are reminiscent of a beef stew while the lighter lentils make it more of a European 1^st course. Experiment!

2c lentils, cooked, washed and drained- can use yellow, green or brown- ALL DELICIOUS

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

2 stalks celery, large dice

1 carrots, large chop

3 small yellow skinned potatoes, large dice

1c-cooked farrow

1-2c broccoli florets, cauliflower, diced and/or chopped leafy greens

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes

1T fresh parsley, minced

2-3T extra virgin olive oil

6c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil, in case you need more

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, until golden and caramelized over medium high heat. Add the carrots, celery, potatoes, salt, black and red pepper. When the edges of the vegetables begin to brown, lower the heat and cook covered for 3-5 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Add the cooked lentils and the cooked farrow, mixing them into the vegetables. Add the boiling water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli.

Adjust the seasonings before serving. Serve with crusty bread and drizzle with olive oil.

Coconut Curry Lentil Soup with Vegan Sour Cream

This soup is DELICIOUS! Just a perfect balance of savory, coconut curry love, and sweetness. The lentils provide a powerful punch of vegetable protein- I will be making this all the time from here on out. The sour cream offers a plain yogurt tang that completes the flavor profile- especially if you make it on the spicier side like I do! I used the beautiful little french lentils but any lentils will work magically.

Coconut Curry Lentil Soup with Vegan Sour Cream

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

2c brown, green or french *lentils, cooked

1 medium onion, small dice

1 stalk celery, small dice

1 large clove garlic, smashed, minced

1 tomato, medium dice

1” piece of fresh ginger- grated

1” piece fresh turmeric- grated

1c fresh spinach*optional

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes- more or less as desired

1T curry powder

1T agave, coconut sugar or other sweetener

3T coconut oil

5-6c boiling water

1/2 can blended coconut milk

1t salt or to taste

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Garnish

Cashew Sour Cream

Fresh Cilantro, chopped

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Bring 6c of water to a boil- in case you need more.

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions and garlic until golden and soft. Add the celery, ginger, turmeric, salt, black and red pepper. Add the lentils, mixing them into the vegetables. Add the boiling water, and the chopped tomatoes. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the coconut milk and cook until brought up to temperature. Add the spinach just before serving. Adjust the seasonings if neccessary.

Ladle the soup into a serving bowl and place a dollop of the Sour Cream atop in the center and garnish with plenty of fresh, chopped, cilantro.

*To cook lentils ahead of time instead of using canned, take 3/4c dried green or brown lentils and wash, rinse, pick over and drain. In a large pot, place the lentils with 2 cups clean water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered for 15-20 minutes or until the water has been absorbed and the lentils are tender. Let steam for an additional 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, soak the lentils overnight and rinse prior to cooking. This will reduce the cooking time by almost 1/2.

Simple Red Lentil Soup

Simple Red Lentil Soup

Seriously fool proof- red lentils are a mainstay in my vegan lovin diet. They cook really fast and you can have a gorgeous meal in 20 minutes flat from start to finish. Today I literally grabbed some kale and parsley from the garden and put it into the soup after the heat was turned off to let it steam/cook/mingle. DELICIOUS. Going into the colder days, I always have this soup in the house, I eat it for breakfast!

1 medium onion, *coarsely chopped

1-2 stalks celery, *coarsely chopped

1 carrot, *coarsely chopped

1c red lentils

2” piece of fresh ginger, *coarsely chopped

1 vegan bouillon* optional

1/4t black pepper

1t pink salt OR smoked salt (nice change) or more to taste

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes

1t turmeric (cause it’s just so awesome for you)

3T extra virgin olive oil

4c boiling water

Bring 6c of water to a boil in case you need more.

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, carrots, celery and ginger until golden and soft. Add the red lentils, and black and red pepper. Continue to sauté until the lentils are well coated in oil. Add the boiling water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes partially covered, stirring occasionally. When the lentils are completely cooked, add the salt. In a blender, puree the soup until completely smooth (Or not!!!). Adjust your seasonings as needed.

*Coarsely chopped – if you are not going to puree this soup, then cut your veggies more uniformly to fit on a spoon!

OPTION-Add fresh greens like fresh spinach or kale in the last minutes of cooking if you like.

Sprinkle with nutritional yeast and fresh black pepper. YUM

Lentil Vegetable Soup

Whenever I am need of warming up, this is the soup I make. Being a million degrees and humid, today was not of those days- however, just back from New York city where I ate out for all of my meals (bagels, margaritas, processed vegan food, etc..), I was in need of some serious homemade vegetable love. Everything is local and organic, be it from my garden or from a local farm. It is so simple and so very satisfying. I ate this with 3 seeded cultured bread that I lightly oiled and then grilled with a side of my sweet, lovingly made Kombucha. Fricken delicious.

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

prep: 10 minutes cook time: 30-40 minutes

Vegetable Lentil Soup

2c brown lentils, cooked, washed and drained

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 stalk celery, medium dice

2 carrots, diced

1 potato, medium dice

1-2c broccoli florets and stems, diced or chopped leafy greens

1t turmeric

1/2t ground cumin

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes or 1/2 of a fresh chili or jalapeño

1 vegetable bouillon cube (or 1T veggie broth powder)

2-3T extra virgin olive oil

4c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil, in case you need more

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, hot pepper and garlic until golden and soft. Add the carrots, celery, potatoes, salt, turmeric, cumin, black and red pepper. Continue to sauté until the carrots turn bright orange, stirring often. Add the lentils, mixing them into the vegetables. Add the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder) tamari, and Ume. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli.

Adjust the seasonings before serving.