Best 4 Golden Lentil Soup Recipes

POSTRIO'S GOLDEN LENTIL SOUP WITH LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Prepare the soup: In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, carrot, garlic, turmeric, and cumin. Saute over high heat until the onions are glassy, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, make a bouquet garni by tying together the celery, parsley, and thyme, and add to pan. Stir in the lentils and the chicken stock, season lightly with salt, pepper, and chili flakes, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Skim as necessary.
• Meanwhile, prepare the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, soak bread crumbs in milk. In a mixing bowl, combine the lamb, almonds, soaked bread crumbs, onion, raisins, egg, garlic, parsley, cilantro, and chili pepper flakes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil on the platter you will place the meatballs on and rub oil into the palm of both hands. Form meat mixture into 40 golf ball-size meatballs, each approximately 1-inch in diameter.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet or saute pan. Arrange the meatballs in 1 layer in the pan, quickly sear meatballs over high heat, and then place in the oven. Cook until the meatballs are well browned and firm to the touch, turning to brown all sides, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Prepare the garnish: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until serving time.
• Return to the soup: Remove the celery bouquet. With an immersion blender, lightly blend soup (you want it to still be a little chunky). Correct seasoning, to taste. Alternatively, transfer 2/3 of the soup to a blender*. Blend until smooth and return to the saucepan.
• Ladle soup into 8 or 10 soup bowls. Divide the meatballs evenly among the soup bowls and drizzle the yogurt mixture over. Serve immediately.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.
• Place the chicken bones in a 6-quart pot, pour water over to cover, and bring to a rolling boil. Skim off the scum that collects on the top. Add the remaining ingredients, lower the flame, and simmer about 2 hours, skimming as necessary. Strain into a clean bowl and cool. Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 days, discarding hardened layer of fat before using or freezing.
• Yield: about 2 quarts

INSTANT POT GOLDEN LENTIL & SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Hit "Saute" button on Instant Pot. Add oil. When hot, add the onions, carrots, and celery. Saute, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, turmeric, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute.
• Add the lentils and pour in the broth. Stir.
• Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the release valve is in the "sealing" position. Press the "Manual" button and set the timer at 12 minutes.
• The Instant Pot will warm up for about 10 minutes and then start cooking. After the 12 minutes is up, quick-release by flipping the release valve to "venting" (a little bit at a time at first).
• Once venting is complete, remove the lid of the Instant Pot. Stir in the spinach. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve.
• Keeps in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Freezes well too!

LENTIL SOUP WITH GOLDEN BEETS AND RUTABAGA

Steps:

• Cook and stir olive oil, onion, carrots, parsnips, beet, rutabaga, and fennel in a soup pot over medium heat until vegetables begin to soften, about five minutes.
• Mix vegetable broth into vegetables and bring to a boil. Add lentils, dried thyme, bay leaves, and parsley. Reduce heat to low and simmer until lentils are tender, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste.

GOLDEN LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy pot, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil until hot. Add salt pork and saute until it begins to brown. Add carrots, celery and onion and stir to combine. Add another tbsp. olive oil, stir and continue to saute until carrots and celery begin to soften and onion begins to brown. Add the last tbsp. of olive oil and stir in lentils, cumin and bay leaf. Cook another minute until very fragrant. Add the chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Add chopped garlic, stir and reduce heat to a simmer. Begin adding the water a cup at a time to thin the soup. It will be very thick at this point. Once it reaches the desired consistency, continue to heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If too thick, thin with additional water. If you want to make a vegetarian version of this, substitute all of the liquid with water and omit the salt pork. Add a drop or two of liquid smoke for flavor and season with salt.