Lentil Vegetable Soup

December 9th, 2009 filed under Dal (Lentils), Soups and Salads

Lentil soup is healthy and very satisfying dish. Its a great soup for lunch served with bread.

Recipe will serve 4.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup lentils (masoor dal)
• 1 cup of carrots, sliced in 1/2 inch pieces
• 1/2 cup of green string beans, sliced ½ inch pieces
• 1 cup of celery, sliced in ½ inch pieces
• 3 medium size tomatoes cut into 8 pieces
• About ½ inch ginger thin sliced
• 1½ teaspoon salt
• 1/2  teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Chaunk (seasoning):

• 2 tablespoon clarified butter (ghee) or 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/2  teaspoon cumin seed (jeera)
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• Half a lemon

Method:

1. Wash lentils and soak in 2 cups of water for 1 hour or longer. Once soaked, the lentils should be about double in volume.
2. Heat 4 cups of water in a pressure cooker on medium high heat. Next add soaked lentils, salt, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, carrots, green beans, celery, and tomatoes.
3. Close the pressure cooker and put the weight (or seal the exhaust).
4. As the pressure cooker starts steaming turn the heat down to medium and cook for about 6 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and wait until steam has stopped before opening the pressure cooker.
6. Mix dal well, if dal is thick add more boiling water and make the consistency as you desire. Soup should be chunky.

Chaunk (seasoning):

1. For seasoning (chaunk) heat the butter in a small saucepan, add cumin seeds and wait until cumin seed crack. Then pour it over the soup.
2. Add garam masala to the soup and mix it well.
3. Before serving squeeze a few drops of lemon juice.

18 Responses to “Lentil Vegetable Soup”

1. sky says:

   March 6, 2010 at 5:36 pm

   Dear Manjula,
   I just want to thank you for all your recepies my husband and son loves them very much, I’ve learned so much from your recepies and tips that don’t even believe how easy it is.
   Thank you.

   Reply
2. Urvi says:

   February 26, 2010 at 8:41 am

   I love your all your recipes! Keep ‘em coming! Thanks, its realllyyy helpful esp to someone who is learning to cook!

   Reply
3. tom says:

   February 17, 2010 at 2:46 pm

   hi majula , id like to know how i could cook this soup without a Pressure Cooker ?

   thanks

   Reply
4. Tina says:

   February 13, 2010 at 5:36 pm

   Miss Manjula,

   This soup is wonderful! I made it tonight and my husband and I enjoyed it so very much. It is a perfect blend of flavors. The squeezed fresh lemon juice adds just the right amount of tanginess.

   I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!

   Thank you so much for this website!

   Reply
5. Deepika says:

   January 30, 2010 at 3:27 pm

   I tried some of your recipes. It came really good.
   Thanks for your recipes.

   Reply
6. bobby says:

   January 21, 2010 at 11:59 am

   Dear Manjula Aunty,

   I tried the soup and it came out really delicious – wife and two little kids (6 & 3) all of them enjoyed it.

   Thank you very much for the simple & wonderful recipe.

   Reply
7. GIL CARTER says:

   January 10, 2010 at 12:48 pm

   Manjula, do you have a good recipe for sambar soup? Have just found your site and really love it. Many thanks, Gil

   Reply