Lentil soup can be a wonderful meal. All it needs to complement it is some cornbread and maybe a side salad. It offers all the protein you need and makes a stand alone meal. If you don't add any meats to it for additional flavorings you can even make a vegetarian version of the soup with just a few simple adaptations. Here you will find both a basic lentil soup recipe and a vegetarian version of the recipe. Why not try out your favorite version for your next meal?

Lentil Soup:

Ingredients:

1/4 pound salt pork, diced

1 pound lentils

1 large onion

4 cloves garlic

1/2 cup shredded carrots

8 cups chicken broth

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Chop onion and mince garlic. In a large stock pot, saute onion and garlic in oil until onion is tender and translucent. Add broth, salt pork, carrots, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Rinse lentils and make sure there are no rocks in them, then add them to the soup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3 to 4 hours or until lentils are tender stirring occasionally. It may be necessary to add more broth to soup during cook time. Remove bay leaf from soup and serve.

For a vegetarian version of this soup you simply remove the animal products, replacing them with vegetables instead. This version is vegetarian friendly and just as delicious as the original version.

Vegetarian Lentil Soup:

Ingredients:

1 pound lentils

1 large onion

4 cloves garlic

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup shredded cabbage

8 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Chop onion and mince garlic. In a large stock pot, saute onion and garlic in oil until onion is tender and translucent. Add broth, carrots, cabbage, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Rinse lentils and make sure there are no rocks in them, then add them to the soup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3 to 4 hours or until lentils are tender stirring occasionally. It may be necessary to add more broth to soup during cook time. Remove bay leaves from soup and serve.

All either version of this filling and delicious soup needs is cornbread and or a side salad to complement it for a perfect, inexpensive and easy meal idea.

Learn more about this author, Mary Hale.
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