Indian Lentil Soup

Name: Indian Lentil Soup
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 709.77 ml green lentils, washed; 2 (1814.36 g) box chicken stock; 411.06 g can chicken stock; 4.92 ml ground turmeric; 2 large potatoes; 4 chicken breasts, boiled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 4.92 ml salt; 4.92 ml black pepper; 5 garlic cloves, peeled; 3 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped; 66.55 ml water; 44.37 ml vegetable oil; 9.85 ml ground cumin; 9.85 ml ground coriander; 2.46 ml cayenne pepper; 29.58 ml lemon juice

Submitted by Stacee R.

"This soup takes a couple hours to make but is well worth it and freezes beautifully! I received this recipe from a colleague but I believe the original source is Madhur Jaffrey."

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photo by mersaydees

Ready In:: 1hr 40mins
Ingredients:: 16
Serves:: 8

ingredients

709.77 ml green lentils, washed
2 (1814.36 g) box chicken stock
411.06 g can chicken stock
4.92 ml ground turmeric
2 large potatoes
4 chicken breasts, boiled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4.92 ml salt
4.92 ml black pepper
5 garlic cloves, peeled
3 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
66.55 ml water
44.37 ml vegetable oil
9.85 ml ground cumin
9.85 ml ground coriander
2.46 ml cayenne pepper
29.58 ml lemon juice

directions

Combine the lentils, 2 boxes of chicken stock and turmeric in a heavy pot and bring to a boil. Cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar, turn heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
While soup simmers, peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. When soup has cooked for 30 minutes, add cut potato. Cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar again, and continue simmering for another 30 minutes.
During the second simmering period, put the garlic and ginger into an electric blender. Add 4 1/2 T water and blend until you have a smooth paste. (I used a food processor for this step. You don't need it to be a paste but it should be finely chopped.).
Once the soup base has finished cooking it needs to be pureed. Blender 3 batches. (I left one batch unblended to give the soup more texture.) Put pureed soup in a large bowl and set aside. Rinse and wipe out your soup pot.
Place cooked and cubed chicken in a separate bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to mix. Next, pour oil into soup pot and set over medium heat. When oil is hot, put in the garlic/ginger paste, cumin, coriander and cayenne. Fry, stirring continuously, until the spice mixture is slightly browned and separates from the oil. Put in chicken pieces and fry for 1-2 minutes. Add 14 1/2 oz. chicken stock and bring to boil. Cover and turn heat to low; simmer for 5 minutes.
Pour in pureed soup and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and serve.

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Reviews

I admit skepticism as I embarked on the actual cooking of this recipe. The first 2 or 3 steps had me wondering just what was I going to end up with? Something to put in my tub to enjoy a nice spa mud bath? I was a little apprehensive, to say the least! I kept going, curious about the end result. I so appreciate that the instructions are so well written! The end result made me feel like I'd finally arrived to someplace I'd never been! Very spa like! :) Unlike the previous two reviewers who thought this too spicy, I liked the spice just fine, and could go a bit heavier on them. I used my new Magic Bullet to puree the ginger and garlic; it did a fabulous job. I boiled my chicken breasts in the lentils, it seemed efficient. I served it with a dollop of plain yogurt. Thanks, Rickoholic83! Made for <b>Cookbook Tag</b>.

mersaydees
This was good and easy to make but it was a bit too spicy for me. I followed the recipe as written but next time I would Annacia's advice and cut the spices in half. It does make a lot of soup. I have frozen some for lunches also.

bmcnichol
Man, this makes a ton of soup. I loved this but I would recommend that the spice shy start with 1/2 of the ask for amount, I did back off on the ginger just a bit and I added 1tsp of cinnamon and a twist more of lemon. The lentils and chicken are great together and I used 2 large russet potato's which made it very hearty. This is simply perfect for combating the winter cold and I'm going to have enough to last for awhile.

Annacia