French Lentil and Vegetable Soup

• timp total: 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingrediente

1 pound French green lentils, picked over and rinsed

Boiling water

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

3 large onions, chopped

3 medium garlic cloves, minced

2 large leeks, white and tender green parts only, chopped

1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon ground cumin

8 celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch dice

6 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice

3 quarts chicken stock or low-sodium broth

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 tablespoons dry red wine or red wine vinegar

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instrucțiuni

In a large heatproof bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and let stand for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the onions, garlic, leeks, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons of pepper, thyme, and cumin and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes.

Add the celery and carrots and cook until they begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils to the pot. Increase the heat to high, cover, and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce the heat to moderate, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 1 hour. Stir in the red wine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan.