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dimanche 13 mai 2018

How To Plan A Nourishing Meal Using Easy Lentil Soup

By Roger Peterson


Normally soups take a long time to simmer and cook to perfection. But not easy lentil soup. The lentils cook in about 35 minutes, and long simmering is not necessary with the strong aromatics most cooks include. The soup is served in almost every culture. The subtle differences are due to the different spices and aromatics used.

Lentil soup provides nutrition beyond most things. They are low in calories, low in fats, and high in vitamins and minerals. Most nutritionists flag lentils as very high in health resources. In addition, they are perfect for vegans and those who are looking for gluten-free foods. They are high in fibers and antioxidants in vegetables, herbs, and spices.

The nutrient content of lentils make them very desirable and recommended by many nutritionists. They supply vital minerals, such as iron, phosphorus, and zinc. These are often hard to incorporate into the regular diet of many people. They are also very high in many B vitamins, vital to good health. All this makes them a healthy food that is beneficial in the diet.

Many claim that lentils have no flavor, but they just have such a mild flavor that they need additional ingredients for flavor. These extra flavorings give the variety of ethnic flavors that many desire. Almost any ethnic taste is possible, such as Thai, Italian, Lebanese, and Indian. American flavors with a little less spice than others are possible, as are Mexican and Ethiopian. For a strong, rich flavor using a large amount of EVOO a totally different flavor.

If you prefer a more stew-like soup, then letting it cook until it has less liquid, then leaving the vegetables in chunks will give it that consistency. To make it more soupy or creamy, add extra liquids and pulverizing it with a stick blender. It can be make more liquid with stocks, water, or coconut milk. The versatility of lentils gives many options.

Some suitable aromatics that give lots of flavor are celery, garlic, and onions, different varieties of peppers, fresh ginger, and other things that are trademarks of a particular ethnicity. Soften them in olive oil to soften them, but not brown them. You just want to release the fragrant aroma, and release an enhanced flavor from the sauteing.

Tomatoes are sometimes used but not always. Roasted tomatoes give a richer flavor than just plain steamed or raw ones. Tomatoes are common in some cultures for any soups, but they can sort of overtake the other flavors if not used judiciously. Try making it both ways and decide whether you like it or not. Vary the amount used until you reach what is agreeable to you.

There can also be added flavor in the cooking liquid. Chicken stock, vegetable stock, and beef stock are only some of the liquids used, in addition to water. Coconut milk gives a very rich unique flavor as well. While simmering, keep a pan of hot stock or coconut milk on the burner beside so you can add ladles of liquid when it gets thick, unless you want that consistency.




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