This is a fabulously simple recipe passed down to us by Serine’s mum, who is a terrific cook. Even now when she wants to make something that reminds her of her childhood, she always give her mum a ring and pick her brain for the recipes. It is usually a case of ‘fry some onions..’ ‘erm, mum, how many?’ but as every good cook knows, these things are never precise! This recipe is particularly wonderful because it is nutritious, filling, ridiculously healthy and a great vegetarian/vegan option if you have guests with special requirements. It is so simple and flavoursome, it does not even need any stock.
Ingredients:
250g red lentils (they are about 2mm wide, and usually come split)
1 large onion
1 medium potato
juice of half a lemon
salt, pepper and a pinch of allspice
olive oil for frying
water
Tucci’s Kitchen Ciabatta bread or toasted pitta croutons to serve
Place the lentils in a sieve and rinse them thoroughly under hot water until the water runs clear. Set to one side. Fry the onions in a little olive oil until golden brown. Add pepper and a pinch of allspice and put the lentils on top. Stir through and cover the lentils with about a litre to a litre and a half of boiling water. Boil for about 10 minutes, and in the interim peel and slice a medium potato into small chunks. After the lentil mix has boiled for 10 minutes, turn the heat down and simmer for a further 10-15 minutes. Then add the small chunks of potato and cook for a further 10 minutes, until all the ingredients are thoroughly soft. Once cooked, add the juice of half a lemon, and some salt to taste and blend with a hand blender. If the soup is too thin, return to the heat and reduce further to your liking. If too thick, add a little water and heat throughout. It takes a little experimentation, but the consistency should end up a little like leek and potato soup. To serve, drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil and eat with some crispy pitta bread croutons (cut into cubes and oven toasted) or some freshly made ciabatta bread (pictured above). Delicious!
