Essay About Recipe - Curried Lentil and Apple Soup

This thick and hearty soup is a family favourite and sure to become a staple in your repertoire of soup starters! It might sound like an odd combination, but the crisp, slightly sweet apples contrast beautifully with the warm curry spice and earthiness of the lentils. Curried lentil and apple soup is perfect for those cold nights throughout autumn and winter.

Unlike other dried legumes, lentils do not need to be pre-soaked. This means the soup can be prepared much more quickly than other bean soups.

This soup is smooth and can therefore can be frozen without adverse effects. However, you should try to allow the soup plenty of time to defrost rather than cooking it from frozen.

Cook Time

Prep time: 15 minCook time: 35 minReady in: 50 minYields: Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 50g (2oz) butter
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 2 carrots, scraped and chopped
  • 250g (8oz) cooking apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 350g (12oz) red lentils
  • 2 litres (3 and a 1/2 pints) stock (vegetable or thin chicken stock work best)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper

Method

  1. Heat butter in large saucepan and fry the onion, carrot, apple and curry powder for about 10 minutes, without browning.
  2. Stir in lentils, bay leaves, and stock or water. Bring to boil then simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. Remove bay leaves. Liquidise the soup, then return to saucepan, add lemon juice and seasoning. Reheat before serving.