Armenian Apricot Lentil Soup Recipes

APRICOT LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Saute onion, garlic, and apricots in olive oil. Add lentils and stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, and season with cumin, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in lemon juice. Puree 1/2 of the soup in a blender, then return to the pot. Serve.

APRICOT LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in soup pot over medium low heat. Add onion and garlic; saute till onion is just turning translucent and golden.
• Add apricots and cook, stirring constantly (do not let them burn!) till softened and shiny and just beginning to brown, about 4 minutes.
• Add cumin, nutmeg, oregano, and thyme and cook, stirring, a minute or so (until spices are evenly distributed and fragrant).
• Add stock, tomatoes, and lentils; stir till well combined. Bring to a boil, reduce flame and simmer for 40 minutes (till lentils are very tender).
• Just before serving, puree soup (an immersion blender works best). Garnish each serving with a lemon wedge, a dollop of sour cream, and a sprig of thyme, if desired.

MSHOSH (ARMENIAN LENTIL DISH)

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils. Place them into a pot and add water. (If using green lentils, add 3 cups of water, otherwise use the amount of water listed on the packaging.) Cook according to the package instructions. Season with salt to taste.
• While the lentils are cooking, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden (about 5 minutes).
• Add the chopped walnuts and chopped apricots to the onions. Stir, making sure all pieces are covered in oil and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the apricots start to caramelize and the mixture becomes fragrant. Turn off the heat and set aside until the lentils finish cooking.
• When the lentils are done, take them off of the heat. (There should be little to no water remaining.)
• Transfer the onion and apricot mixture to the pot with the lentils. Stir everything together, cover and let stand, off of the heat, for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
• Garnish with black pepper and parsley before serving.

ARMENIAN APRICOT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in your soup pot over medium heat, then stir in the onions and carrots. Saute for about 10 minutes. Add the cumin and stir well. Decrease the heat, cover, and let the vegetables sweat for ten minutes.
• Add the lentils and pour in enough of the water to cover. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook for twenty minutes, or until the lentils and carrots are tender. Add more of the water as needed as the lentils soften and expand.
• Remove from the heat, stir in the apricots and any remaining water, and season with salt. Use an immersion blender to puree until smooth; alternatively working in batches, puree in a regular blender until smooth. Take care not to over salt this soup. The right amount will bring out the flavor of the apricots but leave the onions in the background. Serve hot.

ARMENIAN APRICOT LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat in a dutch oven or large soup pot. Add the onions and carrots and saute for 10 minutes. Add the cumin and stir. Lower the heat, cover, and let the vegetables sweat for 10 minutes. Add the lentils and add enough water to cover. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the lentils and carrots are tender. Add more water as needed during the cooking. Remove from heat and add the apricots. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth (or use a regular blender and blend in batches); season with salt to taste.