Sometimes the guilt of eating too many wrong things just gets to me and I need to balance the scales internally. This calls for a comforting and filling soupy treat with a pinch of something yum thrown in. Also, all those gorgeous cherry tomatoes and vine tomatoes sitting in my fridge were begging to used -asap or risk being dumped into my green food recycle bag. Thrifty that I am, I will not allow that to happen in my kitchen! And I always turn to my stored lentils for something comforting and homely.
This recipe is perfect for making ahead in a larger batch and freeze some for later.
Tomato and Lentil Soup
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker / Heavy-bottomed pan
- Knife and chopping board
- Kadhai or any pan
- Potato masher or a large ladle
- Blender / Mixer
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Red Lentils/Masoor split without skin
- 1/4 cup Yellow Lentil/Moong – split without skin
- 4 – 5 medium-sized Tomatoes
- 1 pinch Asafoetida
- 2 Red Onions
- 5 – 6 Garlic cloves
- 2 tsp Coriander Powder
- 2 tsp Cumin Powder
- ½ Thum-sized Fresh Ginger – peeled
- 2-3 Cloves
- 1 tsp Pepper powder
- Red chilli flakes – optional
- 3 large tbsp Oil for frying
- 1 tbsp oil for the tadka
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash the lentil through a sieve and pressure cook – 3 whistles
- Let the steam escape and then loosen cooker lid
- Remove cooked lentils and allow to cool completely
- If you are not a pressure cooker lover then cook the lentils in a big saucepan with exactly two times the water than the quantity of the lentils
- Lentils cook quickly in a pan, cover and cook and keep an eye as water may boil over
- Finely chop red onions chopped into long slivers
- Chop the tomatoes into 4 pieces – just for ease of blending
- In a kadhai or wok heat the 3 tbsp oil and deep fry the garlic chopped into fine strips
- Add the red onions and sauté are absolutely crisp, the aroma is delicious
- Puree the washed tomatoes with the deep-fried red onion and garlic (leave some for garnishing)
- Use a potato masher ( or the back of a large ladle) and roughly squash the cooked and cooled lentils and mix them with the tomatoes puree
- In the same kadhai/wok or pan used to fry the onions and garlic – heat about 1 to 1.5 tsp oil
- Add asafoetida, whole cumin, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder, cloves
- Sauté the spices in the oil for under a minute
- Add the cooked lentils and tomato puree
- Add water if the mixture is too thick
- Cover and cook on a low flame for 5 -8 minutes
- Season with salt as per taste
- Garnished with the remaining crispy fried onion and garlic bits
- Sprinkle some freshly cracked pepper
- Serve hot
- Best accompanied by hot buttered toast
Wholemeal bread, a crusty baguette, or a soft cheesy loaf – all make for great accompaniments with this soup. Indulge yourself by adding a blob of butter on top of the soup before serving.
This protein packed dhal/ soup looks so delicious and perfect to wipe out the winter blues. By the way *note big hint* I love the copper plate, actually I don’t love it I adore it.
I forgot since I was busy drooling over that plate …..please do send it to In your VEG BOX ~Tomatoes at citrusspice.
Definitely, Nayna will do, hahaha yes the plate is quite something!
Thanks, Nayna yes it quite something isn’t it?
Love it Manju! Super hearty soup for this weather – not winter anymore but not quite spring yet 😉
Thanks, Syl, yes we are somewhere in between, aren’t we?!
I love spicy tomato and lentil soup, so I guess that this one with indian spices should be right up my street:) hope your hand is getting better!
Hi Fiona, oh that’s good to know, I am such a lentil person and I cannot resist juicy fresh tomatoes! Thanks the hand is healing well but my wrist is a bit wobbly but am getting there 🙂
This looks like it has a great texture to it!
It is very smooth, wholesome, and yum!
That would certainly warm you up and give you a virtuous glow at the same time 😉
Oh yes, Janice!
This looks so yummy and as a new mummy will come in handy to help loose the baby weight x
Oh, many congratulations Jen! yes this one is a slimming idea but hearty and wholesome – yay!
Oh now that looks amazing!! Will have to try this! Thank you for sharing! I love a hearty soup with a crusty bread roll! 🙂
You are very welcome Lucie:) thanks for stopping by! me too – crusty bread sigh!
I love making my own soup – this looks delicious!
xx
http://www.forevermissvanity.com
Yes please, tinned n canned soups just don’t do it for me!
That soup sounds really tasty! I’m always looking for more lentil recipes.
Thanks, Amanda and am glad you found another lentil recipe!
Nice soup and I’m loving that green bowl!
Thanks, Jaq! Oh, that bowl is a beauty, isn’t it?!
Ooh that looks perfect – something that I wouldn’t share with anyone – tomatoes, lentils as a soupy broth..yummy! Perfect for winter nights 🙂
Oh yes, total comfort food this broth is! hehe yeah, I too feel protective towards my bowl of soup – no one else can dunk their bread in there!
Can’t wait for summer, with its promise of juicy fresh tomatoes. I shared this recipe on Facebook. I like the concept of the deep fried garlic and onions. This has made me hungry!
Thanks, Alana that’s very kind of you to share on FB! I love garlic and onions and I start cooking with these 2 in my head! Summer Glorious Summer can’t wait! Bring on the BBQ’s, fresh summer fruits, no jackets, beach trips, and oh yeah the SUN! 🙂
Warming yummy soup. Wish i had a bowl of this as I sit in front of my fire.
come over for a stay Bintu will pamper you silly! 🙂
Mmm lovely for weekend lunch. I love lentils in anything but my husband and child don’t like them so I don’t get to eat as often as I’d like.
oh yes, such a comforting weekend eat this is Sarah. At ours, Lentils are an everyday affair, and the absence of them might create a fuss 😉
OH yes, tomatoes AND lentils! My favourite soup recipe! Karen
gee thanks, Karen!
Nothing beats a bowl of delicious lentil soup. Its so tasty and you don’t feel guilty because of the nutrients.
You said it Tina! A bowlful of lentil goodness!
Lovely, many good things and flavours going on here in that soup. Thanks!
Thanks, Chris!
Lentil soup is one of my favourite things to make in the colder months. It is healthy, filling and comforting.
True That Dannii, it is so good for the body-mind, and soul!
Such a wonderfully spicy and flavoursome soup – thank you so much for sharing in this month’s Spice Trail. And a great image of Goddess Kali too!
Thanks, Vanesther! Am looking for more entries to add to The Spice Trail, feel like a klutz for not having added any entries for earlier challenges! Thanks, it is a powerful image, isn’t it? am so glad I found that free poster!
Looks scrummy as always 🙂
Janie x
Thank you, Janie!
I do like a good bowl of soup and as you say you can feel quite virtuous having eaten it. Tomato and lentil is a favourite and yours sounds delicious.
Thanks, Choclette! Oh yes, I love that virtuous feeling!
Sounds like a really delicious and healthy soup! Also sounds like it would be great for dunking in some warm, crusty bread…mmm.
aah yes, it’s lovely with crusty bread! Thanks, Morgan 🙂
Oh delish, love soups like this! Really should add lentils more often to soups and your flavourings with them sound heavenly. Yummy.
Thanks, Lou, yes try the lentil in the soup uber-healthy, bang for your buck, and a great way to add bulk to a bowl of soup and make it more wholesome!
I love soupy lentil broth or runny dals. Frugal, warming and utterly delicious!
Thanks, Helen I concur!
Comforting. I do adore tomato soups and love the addition of lentils. Thanks for sharing with NCR.
Thanks, Lisa, its a fun food challenge, glad to be part of it!
This is a great looking soup. I’m also a huge fan of dal. I will be back to try this great variation on it, thank you
Thank you, hope you enjoy it when you make it!
Wow – that looks absolutely fabulous! I’m participating in Tigger’s Vegetarian challenge and have a four-bean chili planned for tonight. I’m from the US, but love the flavors of India. I may give this a try at some point. If you have any other recipes, please feel free to leave them on my blog. I’d love to try whatever you suggest and then share it with others. http://blogcollectables.wordpress.com/meatless-in-may-give-me-a-recipe/
Thanks, Margy! I will definitely suggest some more exciting recipes which you can try and would love to know if your feedback!
Thanks! I’ll be waiting.
Thanks for the kind words Vanesther xx