Lebanese Red Lentil Soup

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 10 cups vegetable stock (or chicken)
• 1 -2 tablespoon olive oil or 1 -2 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 2 1/2 cups red lentils, thoroughly rinsed
• 1/2 cup rice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons arabic seven spice (available at middle eastern grocery stores)
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon aleppo pepper (also available at middle eastern grocery stores) (optional) or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)

Recipe

• 1 sautee onions in the olive oil or butter until soft and translucent.
• 2 add the stock, lentils, and rice. bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover partially.
• 3 when lentils are broken down and rice is almost cooked (about 10 minutes), add the arabic seven spice, cumin, salt, pepper, and aleppo pepper, if using it.
• 4 simmer soup for another 15-20 minutes.
• 5 turn off heat and then add the lemon juice.
• 6 note: add more stock or water to thin it out if it becomes too thick. at the correct consistency, you should be able to pour the soup into bowls.
• 7 serve with crusty bread and additional lemon wedges.