5 A Day Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 320 g onions ((roughly 2 medium ones, diced))
• 2 cloves garlic ((grated or crushed))
• 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes ((or to taste – optional))
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 320 g carrots ((roughly 2 medium ones, chopped into small chunks - roughly 1cm / 1/2 inch cubes – See Note 1))
• 320 g sweet potatoes ((roughly 1 large one, skin removed and chopped into small chunks - roughly 1cm / 1/2inch cubes – See Note 2))
• 120 g red lentils
• 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 litre water ((fill the empty tomato tin 2 1/2 times))
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. 1

   Place the olive oil and diced onions in a large saucepan and gently fry for 5 minutes, with the lid on, until softened but not brown. Stir occasionally.

2. 2

   Add the garlic, chilli flakes and spices. Fry for 1 more minute, stirring occasionally. (Add a small splash of water if it gets too dry.)

3. 3

   Add the chopped carrots, chopped sweet potato, red lentils, tinned tomatoes, water, salt and pepper and turn up the heat. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat right down and simmer for 15-20 minutes with the lid on, or until the vegetables are tender and the lentils are quite soft.

4. 4

   Tip the soup into a blender and blitz until completely smooth. PLEASE TAKE CARE AS THE SOUP WILL BE VERY HOT! (See Note 3.)

5. 5

   If necessary, return the blended soup back to the saucepan and warm back up to your desired temperature. Add more water if the soup is too thick for your liking. You may also wish to check the seasoning at this point too.

6. 6

   Serve with homemade bread.