Wintery Vegan Lentil Soup

This soup recipe has been our personal favorite for this winter

Whether you’re looking to lighten up or warm up, this healthy lentil soup is for you

Ingredients

1. ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2. 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
3. 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
4. 4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
5. 2 teaspoons ground cumin
6. 1 teaspoon curry powder
7. ½ teaspoon dried thyme
8. 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
9. 1 cup brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed
10. 4 cups vegetable broth
11. 2 cups water
12. 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
13. Pinch red pepper flakes
14. Freshly ground black pepper
15. 1 cup chopped fresh collard greens or kale, tough ribs removed
16. Juice of ½ to 1 medium lemon, to taste

Instructions

1. Warm the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat.
2. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion and carrot and cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, curry powder and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often, in order to enhance their flavor.
3. Pour in the lentils, broth and the water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot and reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape.
4. Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender. Securely fasten the lid, protect your hand from steam with a tea towel placed over the lid, and purée the soup until smooth. Pour the puréed soup back into the pot. (Or, use an immersion blender to blend a portion of the soup.)
5. Add the chopped greens and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the greens have softened to your liking. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the juice of half of a lemon. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and/or lemon juice until the flavors really sing. Serve immediately. Leftovers will keep well for about 4 days in the refrigerator, or can be frozen for several months (just defrost before serving).