Spicy Moroccan Lentil Soup

"I never met a lentil I didn't like, and any kind will work (yellow, red, green,) in this hearty and filling vegetarian main-course soup. I created it when I found an almost-empty bottle of couscous spices, bought in France a couple of years ago. The product is called "ras el hanout" which I am told translates roughly as "top of the spices," and is a blend of (if my French translation is correct) black pepper, garlic, cinnamon, ginger, mustard, clove, nutmeg, and red pepper. It is available online at http://www.zamourispices.com/raselhanout.html. Complex and unusual, and adds great zip. This is a delicious meal with a simple salad and some crusty artisan bread. It tastes even better 2 days later, and freezes well."
 
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Ready In:
1hr 5mins
Ingredients:
10
Yields:
12 1-cup servings
Serves:
12
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ingredients

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directions

  • Heat oil in 12-cup soup pot, and saute' onion and pepper until soft. add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
  • Add salt, spice blend, and cilantro, blend well.
  • Add broth and lentils, bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, or until lentils are soft. Add wine halfway through. Add more broth or water if the soup is becoming too thick.

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Reviews

  1. I've never been to Morocco but for some reason this feels like comfort food from home. Honestly I wouldn't change a thing and I love the Ras el Hanout used here. I put it on early yesterday morning and enjoyed some for lunch saving the rest. As always with such things it was even better today. At this point I'm planning to make a big batch to freeze in 1 or 2 serving bags for the winter. The heat level and flavors are right on for me. Made for North Africa/Middle East forum tag. :D
     
  2. Definitely a lentil soup with a kick! I'm used to a totally different taste in a lentil soup, flavored with herbs, so this was really unusual, but rich and flavorful. One of the best things about lentils is that they cook quickly so you can enjoy it as an after-work meal, but I did make this soup a day ahead and reheated it for dinner the next day with a bit of Greek yogurt swirled in. (BTW, I found a 7-spice blend with the spices mentioned in a Middle Eastern market under the label Sadaf). Thanks Dilettante! Made for PAC fall 09
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>I've loved to cook ever since I got that Easy-Bake oven for Christmas at age five!&nbsp; There is no food I truly dislike (except processed junk, of course, and the one veggie I've never quite loved is a green bell pepper).&nbsp; I became a vegetarian about 20 years ago, but before that, one of my favorite things was fried chicken livers.&nbsp; I still kind of miss those!&nbsp; I'm not a purist; now and then a bit of grilled salmon is irresistible...so I've stopped trying to label myself!</p> <p>I love to get out and ride my bike around town, and taking long walks is my favorite way of relaxing and feeling good.&nbsp; I'm lucky to live just half a mile from a grocery store, so on nice days I like to take my handy rolling market cart and walk there.&nbsp; Sometimes I do my best menu-planning while strolling along the sidewalk!</p> <p>My married daughter in San Antonio got my cooking gene for sure.&nbsp; We love nothing better than getting in the kitchen together when I visit her, or when she comes home.&nbsp; Holidays are our favorites---we like a pretty presentation and doing the tables, centerpieces, and so forth, as well as trying new recipes and menus.&nbsp; She's recently added homemade baby food to her repertoire, now that she has a baby boy who lovvvvves to eat. I can't wait 'til he starts having birthday parties; while I don't eat sweets myself, I adore baking.</p> <p>The only sort of cooking I'm not overfond of is grilling out, but that's fine; my husband is the King of the Grill and takes over when we entertain outdoors.&nbsp; I'm happy to do the appetizers and sides in the INDOOR kitchen!</p> <p>I love Italy and France, and have many recipes scribbled on napkins from my trips there.&nbsp; I'm in an Italian study group, and the six of us enjoy getting together and trying recipes.&nbsp; My husband and I are also in a supper club, and each month there's a different theme: one summer we hosted a luau with a variety of tropical dishes, and this past fall I built a menu around a French theme, with hearty boeuf bourguignonne (for my carnivorous friends).<br /> <br />I was excited to be chosen Chef of the Day on October 17, 2009, and Chef of the Month in July '12. Thank you, Food.com, and all the friends/fellow cooks I've met here. Let's keep on cookin'!</p> <p><br /> <br /><img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/PACsticker-Adopted.jpg alt=/ /></p>
 
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