Arabic Lentil Soup



Living in the Middle East, one of the basic starters for the 'cold' winter days (or more likely days when the AC is so strong you are shivering in the restaurant! lol being 50C outside) is the Arabic lentil soup :) Light and lemon-y!



Arabic Lentil Soup



 

This particular recipe was given to me by a friend from a famous Lebanese dietician (who eventually wrote a cookbook). Everybody I know loooves this soup :)



Arabic Lentil Soup:

- 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

- 1 Onion (med, chopped)

- 3/4 cup Orange lentils

- 2 Tbsp Rice

- 3 Lemons

- 2 1/2 Tsp Cumin powder

- 1/4 Tsp Sweet pepper

- 1 Tsp Salt

Chop the onion, add cumin, salt and pepper, and sweat in the pot with vegetable oil (medium heat) until soft and slightly brown. 

  

Sweat onions (with spices)



Add lentils & rice to sweat onions



Simmering



 Wash rice & lentils, add into pan.  

Place into the pot, add 5 cups of water and cook at high heat (6/6) until it comes to a boil. Then lower the heat (2/6) and let simmer for 20-30 minutes; until lentils are soft and cooked.



Add lemon juice. Puree mixture & serve hot!

 Accompany this with lemon slices and some baked Arabic bread pieces :)