Every nation and cuisine has a dish traditionally served on New Year’s day. One of these is Lentil Soup, the thinking is that lentils look like coins, hence, wealth in the New Year. I do remember my Mother making Lentil Soup, but not necessarily for New Year’s Day.  Try it, any time or at New Year’s, it is a hearty and delicious soup and it may bring you wealth!

Lentil Soup (Lenchehlevesh)

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Course: Soup
Cuisine: Hungarian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Degree of Difficulty : Easy
Servings: 4 people
Tip : If you omit the smoked sausage and substitute vegetable stock you can serve this hearty soup as a vegetarian main meal.

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup dry green lentils
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 2-3 small carrots peeled and cut into 1/4" slices, or 2 large carrots
  • 1/2 ring smoked sausage such as kielbasa (optional)
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh parsley chopped
  • 1/4 cup diced onions
  • 1 clove garlic grated
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tspn Hungarian paprika
  • Garnish (optional)
  • sour cream

Instructions

  • Gather all ingredients before starting recipe.
  • Add chicken stock to a medium stock pot, add bay leaves and bring stock to a boil.
  • Measure 1/2 cup dried green lentils into a sieve and rinse under running water, add to simmering stock and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add chopped parsley, carrots and sliced sausage to broth.
  • Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until the carrots are soft.
  • In a separate small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until hot, then add chopped onions and sauté until the onions become soft, 4-5 minutes.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of flour and the grated garlic and stir continuously for 2-3 minutes, remove pan from heat and add paprika.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Add one to two ladles full of hot stock to roux and whisk until smooth and lump free.
  • Stir the roux into the stock and mix with a wire whisk until the roux is amalgamated and the soup is smooth, cook for a further 4-5 minutes.

Author Notes

Many recipes call for soaking and cooking dried lentils for several hours or over night. I don't know why, because it takes about 20 minutes to cook dried lentils, unless you are looking for a mushy consistency.

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