Hearty Lentil Soup

Ingredients

Olive oil

2 tablespoons

Onion

1, diced

Carrot

1, diced

Celery

2 stalks, diced

Garlic

3 cloves, minced

Lentils

1 cup, rinsed

Vegetable broth

4 cups

Tomato paste

2 tablespoons

Cumin

1 teaspoon

Paprika

1 teaspoon

Bay leaf

1

Salt

to taste

Pepper

to taste

Fresh parsley

for garnish

Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onion, carrot, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
3. Stir in the rinsed lentils, vegetable broth, tomato paste, cumin, paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
4. Bring the soup to a vigorous boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and cooked through.
5. After the cooking time, remove the bay leaf and discard it.
6. For a creamy texture, use an immersion blender to blend the soup until your desired consistency is achieved. Alternatively, blend half of the soup in a blender until smooth and return it to the pot.
7. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if necessary.
8. Serve hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and flavor.