Vegan Lentil Soup

Lentils have been domesticated in the Near East, where carbonized seeds have been discovered dating from 7000 or 6000 B.C.E. Lentil soup goes back to Genesis, with it possibly being the dish Jacob served Esau for his birthright and would have been eaten all over the Alexandrian empire and the Middle East. Lentils were actually mentioned four times in the Bible.

According to Jewish tradition, the small round lentil symbolizes the circle of life and is eaten in many Jewish communities as part of the consolation meal of mourners or during the days before Tisha B'Av, which commemorates the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.

Dried lentils are versatile and easy to store in case of an emergency. You can also dry, store away, then pull out and immediately cook them in liquid, rather than having to soak them overnight before cooking them.

Last week I made a delicious vegetable stew that involved ingredients that I ran out of this week. Instead of making the same stew, I adjusted the recipe and made a simple lentil soup that you can enjoy this winter season. This recipe is easier to prepare for car camping and is still a really delicious meal to try at home. Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup lentils

  • 1 cup cubed russet potatoes 

  • 1 cup chopped onion

  • ½ cup chopped celery

  • ½ cup chopped carrots

  • 4 cups vegetable stock

  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning 

  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning

  • 1 tsp chili powder 

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp pepper 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery. 

  2. Heat a heavy stock pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and the vegetables. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until they just begin to soften.

  3. Next, add the spices. Stir them in and mix well with the vegetables - add the lentils and sauté for another minute and add the stock.

  4. Add cubed potatoes 

  5. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and continue to simmer the soup, stirring occasionally. It will take about another 20 minutes until the lentils & potatoes are completely cooked.

  6. When the lentils and potatoes are cooked, remove them from the heat, stir to combine, and serve.