Moroccan Spiced Lentil Soup Recipes

MOROCCAN SPICED RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, 10 minutes until softened and beginning to color. Add garlic and cook one minute to release its aroma. Add celery and cook 2 minutes until softened. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, the pepper and the turmeric, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, saffron, and bay leaf and cook 2 to 3 minutes to develop the flavor of the spices. Add tomato paste, potatoes, lentils and water and cook 45 minutes; the lentils and potatoes should be quite tender. Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon salt, wheat berries and tomatoes and heat through. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve garnished with cilantro.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly brush oil or butter on both sides of bread slices. Arrange bread in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool croutons on a wire rack.

MOROCCAN SPICED CHICKPEA AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium sized pot heat the olive oil at medium heat and add fennel, gently cooking for a couple of minutes while the fennel releases its natural juices.
• Add the red and white onions, cook until soft and translucent, but without turning brown, stirring mixture from time to time, about 12 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and increase heat to high until the mixture comes to a simmer (about 5 minutes).
• Add the ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic and saffron if using, letting them infuse the mixture with their flavors for a few more minutes.
• Add the lentils, vegetable stock, sprigs of cilantro and parsley and bay leaves and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
• Season with salt, pepper and sugar, stirring the mixture a couple of times. Cover pot and let simmer for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
• Add the cooked chickpeas and cook uncovered for another 5 to 7 minutes until heated through.
• Mix well, season again with salt, pepper and sugar to taste. Remove bay leafs and sprigs of cilantro and parsley.

MOROCCAN SPICED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In Dutch oven, bring water to a boil.
• Add lentils; return to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spray large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Heat over Medium-High heat until hot.
• Add onions; cook 8-10 minutes or until edges of onions are brown, stirring occasionally.
• Add onions to lentils.
• If desired for additional flavor, pour about 1/2 cup of lentil liquid into skillet; scrape bottom and sides to remove any bits of browned onions.
• Add to lentil mixture.
• Stir in all remaining ingredients.
• Cover: cook 20 minutes.