Title: Spiced Lentil Soup
Categories: Soup
Yield: 4 Servings

3	tb	Olive oil
2	tb	Unsalted butter
1		Onion, chopped
2		Carrots, diced
2		Ribs celery, diced
1		Green bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
1	sm	"waxy" boiling potato, peeled and diced
1	ts	Ground cumin
1	ts	Ground pure chili powder
3/4	ts	Ground allspice
1	sm	Imported bay leaf and 5 sprigs parsley
		Tied together with kitchen string
1/2	lb	Lentils, picked over
6	c	Chicken broth
		Salt
		Freshly-ground black pepper

Place the olive oil, butter, and onion in a soup kettle, set over low heat and cook until the onion has softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, add the carrots and stir-cook for 1 minute. Add the celery and stir-cook for 1 minute. Add the green pepper and stir-cook for 1 minute. Add the diced potato, cumin, chili powder, and allspice; stir-cook for 1 minute. Add the herb bundle, lentils, and chicken broth; bring to a boil, then boil for 1 minute. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the lentils are tender. The soup may be prepared in advance up to this point.)

Season the soup with salt and fresh pepper to taste and discard the parsley-bay leaf bundle. Ladle the soup into warm bowls and serve steaming hot.

Makes 4 to 5 servings.

[WASHINGTON POST JAN 11, 1989] Posted by Fred Peters.

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