Spicy Red Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 2 cups water
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped,
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 plum tomatoes, chopped
• 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
• 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
• 5-6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 green pepper, chopped
• 1 green chili pepper (optional)
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 bullion cube
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tbsp tomato paste

Instructions

1. 1

   Pour vegetable stock and water into a pot...: Pour vegetable stock and water into a pot and set aside.

2. 2

   Peel and grate ginger and set aside.

3. 3

   Chop celery, carrots, onion, garlic, green peppers, and...: Chop celery, carrots, onion, garlic, green peppers, and tomatoes, saute on medium heat in a pot, with 2 tbsp canola oil. Add ginger and chili pepper. When vegetables are soft, add 2 cups stock/water mixture to the pot and puree with a hand mixer. You can also pour stock/water and vegetables into a blender to make it smooth OR if you like your soup chunky, do not bother with pureeing!

4. 4

   Once soup is pureed, add rest of stock...: Once soup is pureed, add rest of stock to the pot along with all the spices, salt and black pepper and red lentils.

5. 5

   Let mixture boil for 25 minutes on low...: Let mixture boil for 25 minutes on low heat to allow flavors to develop and meld together. Add more salt if needed. let lentils boil to desired softness. You will notice the soup getting thicker as it cooks slowly.

6. 6

   Remove from heat and garnish with paprika.