Maha's Lentil Soup
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Total Time: 60
Yield: 8 servings
My sister-in-law, Maha Tawil-Copps, is a great cook and comes from a family of great cooks, including her mother, three sisters, and sister-in-law Gemma. Every meal she's ever prepared for me, mostly traditional foods from her native Syria, is a feast for the senses. She's an instinctive cook and an artist by training. "I've tried to follow recipes, but I just can't," she says. "I cook by balance, not measuring cups." This soup -- a traditional dish from Syria and Lebanon -- is one of the simpler acts from her amazing repertoire. Maha once tried using spinach as a substitute for the Swiss chard but vows, "Never again -- it was terrible," although she admits that my mom and Aunt Ginny loved it. One more thing -- and this is important: "Squeeze the lemons over the soup only after you've ladled it into the bowl. If the juice sits in the soup too long, or you reheat it, it ruins everything."
Ingredients:
4 medium onions, finely chopped1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
4 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
6 to 8 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons dry coriander
1 pound dry lentils, rinsed and picked through
8 cups water
2 to 3 tablespoons cumin
1 tablespoon kosher or sea salt
1 bunch Swiss chard, stems removed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 pound vermicelli or angel hair pasta, broken into 1-inch pieces
2 fresh lemons
Fried pita chips or unseasoned croutons
Instructions:
In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, saut
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This was the best soup I have ever made! We used spinach. It was delicious. Make sure to use the lemon juice as described. Croutons did add something, also.
Easy to make, hearty soup that makes a substantial quantity. Shared it with work friends and all agreed this soup is awesome!
This was by far the best lentil soup I’ve ever had. My boyfriend raved about it. The flavor combination of cumin, coriander and fresh lemon is so complex and delicious. I used kale instead of swiss chard, which worked fine. I also put potatoes in when I added the lentils, to make it heartier.
I have told many friends about this soup and will enjoy it for many years to come.