Lebanese Crushed Lentil Soup Recipe
Lebanese Crushed Lentil Soup is a hearty and comforting dish featuring tender red lentils, rice, and aromatic spices. This traditional soup is blended to a creamy yet textured consistency and brightened with fresh lemon juice and parsley, making it a perfect nutritious meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Lebanese
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 ½ cups red lentils, rinsed
- ½ cup short grain white rice, rinsed
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 8 cups water
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil and sauté onions: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Add vegetables, lentils, rice, and cumin: Stir in the chopped carrots, rinsed red lentils, rinsed short grain white rice, and 2 teaspoons cumin. Season again with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cumin becomes fragrant.
- Simmer the soup: Pour in 8 cups of water and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer gently. Stir the soup once or twice during cooking to prevent sticking. Cook until the lentils and rice are fully tender and fluffy, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Blend the soup: Use an immersion blender to pulse the soup a few times, creating a coarse yet creamy texture. The soup should retain some texture but become thick and smooth. It will continue to thicken as it stands.
- Finish and serve: Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top. Serve hot and enjoy this flavorful, nutritious Lebanese lentil soup.
Notes
- Rinsing lentils and rice is important to remove excess starch and impurities.
- Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- The immersion blender can be adjusted to your preferred soup texture; blend more for creamier consistency or less for chunkier texture.
- You can substitute fresh parsley with cilantro or mint for a different flavor profile.
- This soup pairs well with warm pita bread or crusty bread for dipping.
Keywords: Lebanese lentil soup, red lentil soup, crushed lentil soup, vegetarian soup, Middle Eastern soup, healthy lentil soup
Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/lebanese-crushed-lentil-soup-recipe/
