Curried Lentil Soup

This curried  lentil soup is inspired by the Indian side dish dal; the Hindi word means “split” and refers to the split peas or lentils used in its preparation. Fragrant ginger, curry, cinnamon and cumin add lots of rich flavor. Look for lentils and spices in bulk—you’ll often get a better deal and you can buy just the amount you need.

Health Benefits:

Lentils are an excellent source of molybdenum and folate. They are a very good source of dietary fiber, copper, phosphorus and manganese. Additionally they are a good source of iron, protein, vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, zinc, potassium and vitamin B6.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 large onion,chopped
• 3 cloves garlic,minced
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
• 1½ tablespoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 2 bay leaves
• 1½ cups red lentils, rinsed and picked over (see Note)
• 8 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, or parsley
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons mango chutney
• Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
• ⅓ cup plain nonfat yogurt

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, jalapeno, curry powder, cinnamon, cumin and bay leaves and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes more.
2. Stir in lentils and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.
3. Discard bay leaves. Stir in cilantro (or parsley) and lemon juice. Season with pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with yogurt and chutney (if using).