This is one of my all-time favorite
soups. It’s so easy to make, very satisfying, and not to mention good
for you. You can substitute other greens for the escarole, such as Swiss
chard, spinach, or mustard greens. And if you want even a heartier
soup, you can add some chopped ham or shredded cooked pork to the soup
at then end.
Yield: Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium stalk celery, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, peeled ad chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 ounces) plum tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 8 ounces brown lentils, picked over and rinsed (1 1/4 cups)
- 6 cups water
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 medium thead escarole (about 1 pound)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
1.
In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery,
carrot, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are
soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, reduce the heat to low, and
cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
2. Add the lentils and water to the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce the
heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are tender, about
45 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Meanwhile, separate the escarole leaves and rinse well. Stack the
leaves and cut them crosswise into 1/- inch-wide strips. When the
lentils are tender, stir in the escarole. Return the soup to a simmer
and cook, stirring occasionally, until the escarole is tender, about 10
minutes.
4. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Notes
• These tiny lens-shaped lentils are perfect for family meals because,
unlike beans, they need no pre-soaking and they cook more quickly.
• Lentils are among the most nutritious of foods. One cup of cooked
lentils has 18 grams of protein and provides significant amounts of
iron, potassium, and dietary fiber.
• Their earthy flavor adds a wholesome quality to soups, stews, salads,
dips, casseroles, and side dishes. But this ancient food can be admired
for more than its ease of cooking and versatility.
• To use dried lentils, simply pour them into a bowl and rinse with cold
water. Pick out any dark or discolored ones, then drain in a colander.
Simmer them using a ratio of 1 part lentils to 3 parts water or stock
until they’re the right texture for your recipe. To use in lentils in
salads, cook green, brown and French lentils for 15 to 20 minutes, red
lentils for 5 to 10 minutes. For soups and purées, increase the time by 5
to 10 minutes.
americanfood.about.com
