4.01.2010

Splendid Sunshine and Spiced Lentil Soup with Lime and Cinnamon

I think dandelions are awfully cheerful, particularly when the setting sun makes them glow. This one blazed at me from the roots of a tall cedar outside my window this evening. Isn't it lovely? :-)


After days of wild wind, hail, and rain, the sun came out today in all its splendor, brightening landscapes and hearts. Last night I was a whirling dervish of cooking and dish-washing, but tonight I slowed down and rested. I strolled to the creek bank, closing my eyes and breathing deeply as the breezes brought scents of sap and green and flower from the woods. I leaned back against an obliging cedar tree, basking in the warmth of the setting sun.


Then I looked up, marveling at the lacy patterns of tree branches etched against the sky.


All too soon it was time to eat and start working my way through the boxes stacked in my living room. So I poured myself a glass of chilled Aussie white into a Mason jar - I haven't found my wine glasses yet :-) - ate my dinner and got to work.


I'm pleased as punch to have sorted through FOUR boxes and tossed two bags of papers and trash. :-) Hooray! It feels so good. :-)

And now I get to sit down with my tea and write to you dear folks. :-) Last week I promised to share the new soup recipe I tried, and today is the day! :-) I was in the mood for lentils, so I looked through my cookbooks and found a recipe called "Garlicky Lentil Soup" that sounded good. I was halfway through making it and waiting for the lentils to get soft enough when my eye strayed to the page right next to it and lurched to a halt on "Spiced Lentil Soup." A quick glance at the ingredient list confirmed that my allegiance was about to sway. :-) Thankfully the first few steps were virtually identical, so I hurriedly added in the extra ingredients and was set.

Ohhh, it was GOOD! :-) The lentils are simmered with the usual accomplices: garlic, onion, tomato, but then the fun begins with the addition of turmeric, cumin, cardamom and cinnamon. After all that goodness is simmered for a while, you add creamy coconut milk and fresh lime juice and shew, it's yummy. :-)




Spiced Lentil Soup with Lime and Cinnamon
(Adapted from Soup: Superb Ways with a Classic Dish)

Ingredients:

2 onions, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 tomatoes, roughly chopped (I used canned, diced tomatoes)
1/2 tsp ground turmeric (I didn't have any and it tasted great anyways)
1 tsp ground cumin
6 cardamom pods
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 cup red or green lentils, rinsed and drained
3 3/4 cups chicken broth
1 14 oz can coconut milk
1-2 Tbsp lime juice
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Ground cinnamon or cumin seeds to garnish

Directions:
  1. Put onions, garlic, tomatoes, turmeric, cumin, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, lentils and water into a saucepan. Bring to boil, lower heat, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes or until lentils are soft. 
  2. Remove cardamom pods and cinnamon stick, then puree mixture in a blender or food processor. Return to soup pot.
  3. Reserve a little of the coconut milk for garnish, and add remainder, with lime juice, to saucepan. Reheat soup gently without boiling.
  4. Swirl in reserved coconut milk, garnish with cumin seeds or ground cinnamon and serve piping hot.

22 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, this sounds absolutely delicious.
    I can hardly wait to try it.

    FlowerLady

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  2. It really is, dear Flower Lady! :-) I hope you like it. :-)

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  3. This soup has my name on it! It has all my favorite ingredients! Yum!

    p.s. Yes I can tell you like to get off the beaten path too, Krista. It's totally a good thing!

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  4. Yay, Paradis! I felt the same way when I saw it. :-)

    I hope to share more "off the beaten track" stories with you in the weeks ahead. :-)

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  5. What a great post! I was out taking some pictures of dandelions the other day too. You're right, they are so cheery! Your soup looks delicious. I love coconut milk in recipes!

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  6. Oh, thank you, Ungourmet! :-) Coconut milk is the best! :-) Makes everything so rich and creamy.

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  7. Reading the name of your soup already got me excited! I am so going to make this when winter comes. Gorgeous pictures as always!

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  8. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite that creamy! Love the coconut milk in it...it looks like a red velvety dream...

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  9. What a great lentil soup recipe-very pretty. No doubt with the lime juice and coconut milk, it reaches a new level. This recipe is a keeper.

    btw, glad you are getting through your boxes.

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  10. Lentil soup makes me shudder. I think it was the overload of it in Turkey. But I like your version. Actually sounds appetizing! And with a side of crusty toast.

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  11. Thank you, Ellie! Yes, it is perfect stormy weather food. :-)

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  12. The coconut milk absolutely makes it, Joanne! :-)

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  13. Thank you, Velva! Me too. :-) I'm trying to get through a few more tonight. Slowly but surely! :-)

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  14. Oh you make me laugh, Vicky! :-) They used to make me shudder too - mostly cuz they were made so atrociously - but I love this version! :-)

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  15. It looks lovely too. I enjoy lentil soups a LOT. Hope you find the wine goblets soon....Have a blessed Easter

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  16. I'm seriously going to make this soup, thanks for the recipe!

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  17. What a delectable sounding soup! I absolutely love lentils and the bonus is that they're so healthy. Thanks for sharing the recipe Krista :) Happy Easter too Lovely! :D

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  18. Thank you, dear Ozoz. :-) I have a sneaking feeling they're hiding at my parent's house. :-)

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  19. Yay! You're most welcome, Hila! :-)

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  20. Happy Easter to you too, dear Lorraine! :-) You are very welcome for the recipe. :-)

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  21. Dandelions are my favorite thing about Spring. Have you read Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury? Do so on the nearest possible rainy afternoon.

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  22. Ohhh, I haven't read it, Bekah! It sounds like something I absolutely must though. :-) Thanks for the recommendation! :-)

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