SLOW COOKED MOROCCAN LENTIL SOUP

I love lentils. They are such a good vegetable source of protein and are so easy to sneak into dishes. Especially soups, I quite often add lentils in to increase the protein in my soups...but this is the first time I made a soup where the lentils are the shining star. Boy do they shine!

This is my new favourite soup now, as well as John's now too. The flavours are subtle but complex and rich. It is super healthy, can easily have chicken or lamb added to it if you wish to make it a bit heartier, is easy to prep and even easier to cook in the slow cooker or over a low heat on the stove top. It is certainly going to be making many more appearances in my kitchen that's for sure.

If you would like more whole food, nutritious recipes including another delicious veggie soup - then please grab yourself a copy of my free ebook 'A Nourishing Taste'

Slow Cooked Moroccan Lentil Soup
yields approx. 12 cups / serves 6-8 / approx. 180 calories per 2 cup serve
approx. macronutrient breakdown: fat 3.3g / carbs 31g / protein 9.5g
printable recipe


Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
1 white onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, finely diced
1 tbsp ginger paste (or fresh ginger)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground paprika
1/2 tsp ground tumeric
1 tsp chilli paste (or chilli flakes)
2 cups carrots, grated
2 cups pumpkin, grated
400g tinned tomatoes
2 cups green lentils
1/2 cup red lentils
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped (to serve)
*6 chicken thigh fillets (optional - not included in calorie breakdown)

Method
Heat the oil in a slow cooker or large soup pot. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, tomato paste and spices and gently fry until it is aromatic and the onion has soften without browning.
Add all the vegetables, lentils and water and simmer on a low heat for a minimum of 1 hour. (I left mine cooking for about 6 hours.) Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with freshly chopped parsley and crusty bread spread with homemade happy hummus!
*You can also add some chicken to to this soup if you want something more substantial. Just brown some chicken thigh fillets and then finish cooking them in the soup in the slow cooker, until they are tender and falling apart. Then shred and serve with the soup.