Little Step No. 61
What to do:
Make this super-nourishing, super-simple soup!
Why this step works:
After a little break, Little Steps are back! And this week I wanted to share a super-simple recipe for a super-nourishing soup! It's an easy recipe that's perfect to make in a big batch and freeze in individual portions; giving you a little freezer stash that becomes an absolute godsend if life is hectic or you're under the weather and you need a quick and easy meal.
Super-nourishing, super-simple carrot & lentil soup
You will need:
3 tablespoons good quality olive oil
4 large carrots – scrubbed or peeled & chopped into small chunks
1 large onion – finely chopped
2 cloves garlic – finely chopped
Finely chopped fresh rosemary / parsley (optional / to taste)
100g red lentils, rinsed
1 litre vegetable or chicken stock
Seasoning to taste
Method:
Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onions and garlic, heat until translucent
Add the carrots and fresh herbs (if using), and give a good stir
Add the lentils and stock. Simmer until the lentils are cooked and the carrots are tender
Use a hand blender to blend the soup to your desired consistency. I prefer to just blend half and leave half chunky
Leave to cool before freezing in individual foil containers
What’s so great about this soup?
Simple to make, nutritious & super tasty – Any recipes that tick all of these boxes are always a winner for me
Budget-friendly – Cheap and easy to get hold of ingredients
Carrots & olive oil – Carrots are a great source of beta carotene which the body can convert into vitamin A - a crucial nutrient for immune health. Eating fat (olive oil) along with the carrots can actually help this important conversion to happen. Read more about this here.
Red lentils – As well as making this soup tasty and comforting; red lentils provide protein which is often missing from vegetable soups. This soup is more filling and more of a complete meal in one bowl than most other soups.
Onions & garlic – Absolute staple ingredients during the autumn and winter months; onions and garlic provide powerful plant compounds such as quercetin and allicin that can help to support your immune system. Find out more on how to maximise the benefits of your garlic here.
I made a huge batch of this soup yesterday - I tripled the recipe and filled the freezer! Looks like there might be some rain over the weekend ahead; perfect soup weather; hope you enjoy x