Syrian Style Lentil And Chard Soup Recipes

CHARD LENTIL SOUP, LEBANESE-STYLE

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Cook lentils in boiling water until beginning to soften, 8 to 10 minutes. Add chard; continue cooking until wilted, about 5 minutes.
• Add potatoes to the boiling water, reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook until the potatoes are completely cooked, about 12 minutes.
• Mix lemon juice, crushed garlic, and salt together in a bowl; add to the pot. Continue to cook at a simmer another 5 minutes. Stir olive oil into the mixture. Increase heat to high and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.

SYRIAN-STYLE LENTIL AND SPINACH SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Stir in onion and cook until soft about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the lentils and water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Cooking times will vary depending on the freshness of the lentils.
• Ladle a half cup of the soup liquid into a bowl and whisk in the flour to form a paste. Mix the paste into the soup. Add the spinach, lemon juice, and salt. If you prefer a thinner soup, add a bit more water. Cook until spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes. Adjust salt and lemon to suit your taste.

FRENCH LENTILS WITH CHARD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook, stirring, until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add the lentils, 2 quarts water and bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 40 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Stir the chard into the simmering lentils. Cook another 10 minutes or so, until the lentils and greens are tender. The chard should be tender but still bright. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve, passing the cheese at the table for sprinkling. Alternatively, transfer to an oiled baking dish, top with rounds of goat cheese, crumbled feta or grated Parmesan, and heat through in a medium oven.

LEBANESE LENTIL AND SWISS CHARD SOUP

Steps:

• Spread the lentils on a platter and pick them clean of any impurities. Rinse & drain.
• Put the lentils and water in a large saucepan and place over a high heat. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan, and boil gently for 30 - 45 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
• While the lentils are cooking, wash the swiss chard, trim the dirty bottom ends of the stalks, if any, and chop into thin strips about 1/2-inch wide. Add to the lentils & simmer another 5-10 minutes until the chard has softened.
• Peel the garlic cloves, chop them coarsely, and put them in a mortar. Add a generous pinch of salt to absorb the juices released from the crushed garlic and pound with a pestle until you have a smooth paste. You could squeeze the garlic with a garlic crusher but the texture and taste of pounded garlic is nicer.
• Slowly incorporate the lemon juice into the garlic paste, then the olive oil.
• When the lentils and chard are done, stir the garlic mixture into the soup. Season with salt to taste and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Taste, adjust seasoning if necessary and serve at room temperature.

SYRIAN-STYLE LENTIL AND CHARD SOUP

Steps:

• Sort and wash the lentils and cook in the water or vegetable broth with the spices and the nutritional yeast, if you choose that option.
• Meanwhile, chop the onions, garlic and chard and saute in the olive oil, briefly, then cover and turn heat to low to steam the chard.
• When the lentils are nearly done, add the chard/onion mixture, cover and simmer until lentils are soft. Adjust the amount of water as needed.
• Add salt to taste.
• With a stick blender or in a food processor blend the soup partially.
• Finish with lemon/lime juice to taste. Do not add the juice until the lentils are completely cooked.