CHUNKY LENTIL SOUP
What could be more mood boosting on a dreary January day, than a big warming bowl of chunky lentil soup….?
It’s not just the action of serving yourself a bowl, wrapping up in a blanket and getting all cosy that makes you feel good, but the nutrients that you are putting in your body too. By reducing your consumption of processed foods, with fresh and whole foods, you can naturally boost your mood. Plus the lentils in this soup are full of feel-good nutrients. They are high in protein, fibre and are an excellent source of vitamin B which has been shown to lift our mood. The addition of kale will boost your iron intake content, relieving any fatigue, as well magnesium which promotes serotonin (our happy hormone!).
Make a big batch at the weekend, for quick and easy midweek lunches.
Ingredients
150g dried red lentils (rinsed in cold water)
1 white onion (diced)
2 carrots (diced)
2 sticks of celery (diced)
2 cloves of garlic (minced or finely chopped)
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1.5 litres of vegetable stock
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 ground cumin
1/2 ground coriander
2 handfuls of kale (stalks removed and torn into smaller pieces)
1 tbsp olive oil
Topping: Fresh coriander (optional)
Method
Add the olive oil into a large saucepan. Once the oil is hot add the onion, garlic and carrot. Sauté for 10-15 minutes (until the onion is translucent and the carrot has softened)
Add the spices and cook for a further 2-3 minutes, continually stirring so the vegetables become coated in the spices. Add the chopped tomatoes and lentils. Cook for a further 5 minutes, before adding the vegetable stock.
Bring the soup to the boil, before reducing to a gentle simmer for approximately 30 minutes (until the lentils have softened).
Take the soup off the heat and using a hand blender, give the soup a quick blitz - you want the soup to remind chunky and not smooth.
Return to the heat and add the kale. Cook for a further 5 minutes before serving.
