Hearty Tomato and Lentil Soup
1 hour 5 minutes
Nothing beats a healthy, warming lentil soup. The dried mushrooms add a real depth of flavour and, although they're expensive, you only need a tiny amount to make an impact.
Zoë Harpham
3 people made this
Ingredients
Serves: 4
- 10g dried porcini or shiitake mushrooms
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1/2 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preparation:25min ›
Cook:40min ›
Ready in:1hour5min
- Put the mushrooms in a bowl and cover with 1 cup of boiling water. Leave them to soak for 15 minutes, or until rehydrated and softened, then drain in a sieve with a double layer of paper towels, reserving the soaking liquid. Roughly chop the mushroom caps, discarding any tough stems.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in large saucepan over a moderate heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is golden.
- Stir in the tomatoes, ginger, tarragon, chopped mushrooms and their soaking liquid and 2 cups of water. Add the lentils and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25–30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
cook's tips
• This recipe can be made ahead of time, then chilled or frozen. Thaw, if necessary, then reheat gently, adding a little water if too thick. * • To make this a truly satisfying meal, serve the soup with a loaf of fresh, wholegrain bread with butter, or you may prefer it toasted.
