Spicy lentil soup with bell pepper

Spicy lentil soup with bell pepper

Ingredients

• Lentils (red, 450 gr)
• Onion (1 very large onion)
• Carrots (4 medium)
• Garlic (1 large head)
• Bulgarian pepper (3 large)
• Tomato paste (4 tablespoons with a slide)
• Olive oil (1-2 tablespoons)
• Greenery:
• cilantro (2 bunches)
• Parsley (1 bunch)
• Green onions (1 bunch)
• Spices:
• Salt (to taste)
• Curry (3 tablespoons without a slide)
• Turmeric (1 tablespoon without a slide)
• Paprika (3 tablespoons without a slide)
• Coriander (1/2 tbsp.)
• Black ground pepper (to taste)
• Red hot pepper (optional)

Directions

1. Let's prepare all the ingredients. We wash and clean the vegetables.
2. Remove seeds from bell peppers. Onion and bell peppers cut into small cubes, garlic - into thin rings. Grate carrots on a large grater.
3. Rinse the lentils thoroughly, put them in a saucepan, fill with water and set to boil. Salt to taste.
4. If you want to make a more flavorful lentil soup, it's best to use chicken (or other meat) broth.
5. We heat the pan with a small amount of olive oil (about 1 tablespoon), put the chopped onion into it and simmer, fry under the lid over low heat until transparent, stirring occasionally.
6. When the onion is ready, add the grated carrots and fry-stew everything together until the carrots are golden brown.
7. After the carrots acquire the desired color, add the chopped garlic and simmer everything together for another 5 minutes until the garlic softens slightly.
8. When the garlic softens slightly, add the tomato paste, mix thoroughly and simmer under the lid for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. In parallel with cooking vegetables in tomato paste, heat another pan with a small amount of olive oil (about 1 tbsp), put chopped bell pepper in it and simmer under a lid over low heat until the pepper softens.
10. Add the prepared vegetables with tomato paste to the pan to the lentils, mix and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
11. Next, add the prepared bell peppers and cook everything together for another 5 minutes.
12. After the time has elapsed, add all the spices, mix and keep on fire for another 5 minutes. If necessary, straighten the soup with salt and adjust the density by adding hot water if desired.
13. After 5 minutes, add pre-chopped parsley, cilantro and green onions (this time I did not have fresh herbs, so I used frozen ones) and mix gently. Turn off the heat and leave the soup to brew for 15 minutes.
14. Hearty, healthy and warming spicy lentil soup is ready.
15. Bon appetit!