Lentil and Spinach Soup

Name: Lentil and Spinach Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4-6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups dried brown lentils; 7 cups water; 2 garlic cloves; 1 teaspoon coarse salt; 3/4 cup onion, chopped; 1/4-1/2 cup oil; 8 spinach leaves; 2 -4 stalks spinach (use leaves in another dish); 1/2 cup lemon juice; 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional); 1 stalk celery, chopped finely

Submitted by justcallmetoni

"In Lebanon, this soup is called Adas B'Sbaanegh and is prepared as a starter course or mezze. Though I have not yet tried it, the recipe looks quite straight forward with pleasing results. Traditionally, this is prepared with water but you should feel free to use broth. The amount of oil depends on your taste and dietary preferences. Originally found in a very old cookbook produced by Sahadi's a fantastic market in Brooklyn, NY."

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Ready In:: 1hr
Ingredients:: 11
Serves:: 4-6

ingredients

1 ¹⁄₂ cups dried brown lentils
7 cups water
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon coarse salt
³⁄₄ cup onion, chopped
¹⁄₄ - ¹⁄₂ cup oil
8 spinach leaves
2 -4 stalks spinach (use leaves in another dish)
¹⁄₂ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)
1 stalk celery, chopped finely

directions

Sort and rinse the lentils in a large bowl discarding any debris or damaged legumes.
Place the lentils in a large pot with the water. Bring the water to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 25-30 minutes until lentils are tender but still retain their shape.
Finely mince the garlic and create a paste by mashing it with the salt using a mortar or the back of a large knife.
In a separate pan, brown the chopped onions in the oil. Add the spinach leaves and stalks, as well as the garlic paste. Simmer over low heat until the spinach is wilted.
Bring the lentils back to a boil and add the onion spinach mixture and the celery. Turn the heat down again and simmer for 5 minutes.
If you would like a thin soup, add the lemon juice alone. For a thicker soup, whisk the cornstarch into the lemon juice before adding. If adding cornstarch be certain to simmer a few additional minutes until soup thickens.

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Reviews

Excellent recipe, thank you for sharing it. I used escarole instead of spinach, and mixed the garlic and salt well but did not make a paste (no mortar and pestle on hand, and the knife technique too laborious). I used the low end of the lemon juice recommendation, then put out additional lemon, plain yogurt, salt, and a red-pepper mix for my daughter and I to adjust the seasoning according to preference. I will definitely make this again. Would lend itself nicely to variations, e.g., adding potato, tomato, carrots . . . or not!

lee5million
This was included in a take-home pack for my DS, I did make a few changes to this recipes, I used turkey stock in place of water, increased the onions to 2 and increased the garlic to 3 tablespoons, I also added in some dried chili flakes for heat, this soup has wonderful flavor to it, I look forward to making it again soon, thanks Toni!...Kitten:)

Kittencalrecipezazz

Tweaks

Excellent recipe, thank you for sharing it. I used escarole instead of spinach, and mixed the garlic and salt well but did not make a paste (no mortar and pestle on hand, and the knife technique too laborious). I used the low end of the lemon juice recommendation, then put out additional lemon, plain yogurt, salt, and a red-pepper mix for my daughter and I to adjust the seasoning according to preference. I will definitely make this again. Would lend itself nicely to variations, e.g., adding potato, tomato, carrots . . . or not!

lee5million
This was included in a take-home pack for my DS, I did make a few changes to this recipes, I used turkey stock in place of water, increased the onions to 2 and increased the garlic to 3 tablespoons, I also added in some dried chili flakes for heat, this soup has wonderful flavor to it, I look forward to making it again soon, thanks Toni!...Kitten:)

Kittencalrecipezazz

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

justcallmetoni

212

I come from a long line of wonderful cooks and doing my best to hold up that tradition. My great-grandparents owned a coffee shop; my Nana was also a great cook and started the tradition of baking around the holidays, both cookies and fruitcakes. After she died, now a decade ago, our family decided to continue in her honor. The picture above is my mother's (Chef Hot Pans) dining room table just before we packed up our Christmas cookie trays. More that 20 kinds of cookies, many of which are from 'Zaar recipes. I myself am an amateur cook with a penchant for ethnic foods and spice. Currently reforming my menu in favor of healthy dishes lower in fat with lots of grains and vegetables. My favorite cuisines are Mexican, Southwestern and North African. Some of my favorite public cookbooks include: <li>ladypit's <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/mycookbook/book/33588> WW Core Recipes I Have Tried </a> </li>   <li>shirl(j)831's <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/mycookbook/book/34888> Can this really be lowfat??? </a> </li>   <li>julesong's <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/mycookbook/book/30566> Cooking Light Recipes </a> </li>   <li>mariposa13's <a href=http://www.recipezaar.com/mycookbook/book/44690> WW & Lowfat Recipes </a> </li> <img src=http://members.aol.com/sdnt4life/dpg.gif alt=Dirty /> <a href=http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/AM%20Banners/?action=view&current=kitchen-special-hot2-1.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/tgifford/Game%20Room%20Banners/AM%20Banners/kitchen-special-hot2-1.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /></a> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Animation1.gif alt=Image /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/4treasurehunt.gif alt=FFF#2 width=50% /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/purplechefhat.gif alt=Image /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/chef3.jpg alt=Image /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/beartag_1_1.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/adopted_1_1.jpg border=0 alt=Adopted /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/200_artistrichardneuman-art-prints_.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/untitled.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/200_PACpic.jpg border=0 alt=PAC /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/pacbanner.jpg border=0 alt=Photo /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/World%20Tour/ZaarWorldTourFirst.gif alt=/ /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/World%20Tour/ZWT2.gif alt=/ /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Zaar%20World%20Tour%203/ZWT3-Participation.gif alt=/ /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/World%20Tour/AnimatedHostChallengeBanner.gif alt=ZWT3 /><img src=http://www.satsleuth.com/cooking/RecipeSwap2.JPG alt=width=50% /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/cookbookswap.jpg alt=/ />

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