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**Lentil & Split Pea Soup: A Hearty and Nutritious Comfort Food**
Lentils and split peas are both legumes that are full of plant-based protein and fiber, making this soup a wonderful vegetarian or vegan option. This versatile recipe can easily be adjusted to suit your tastes, and the ingredients are simple and affordable, making it an easy go-to for families and busy individuals alike.
### Why You’ll Love Lentil & Split Pea Soup:
2. **Hearty and Satisfying**: The combination of lentils and split peas creates a thick, hearty soup that’s filling and satisfying. It’s perfect for warming up on a cold day or enjoying as a light lunch or dinner.
3. **Budget-Friendly**: With ingredients that are easy to find and inexpensive, this soup is a great option for anyone looking to cook on a budget. Lentils and split peas are affordable staples that stretch far, providing plenty of servings for a low cost.
5. **Customizable**: This soup can be adjusted based on your preferences. Add more vegetables for extra nutrients, spice it up with chili flakes or curry powder, or even add some bacon or sausage for a non-vegetarian version.
This recipe serves about 6-8 people, and you can easily scale it up or down depending on your needs. It’s simple to make, with a cook time of about 1 to 1.5 hours.
– 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
– 1 cup split peas, rinsed
– 1 tablespoon olive oil (or vegetable oil)
– 1 medium onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
– 2 celery stalks, diced
– 1 potato, peeled and diced (optional for extra heartiness)
– 1 teaspoon ground cumin
– 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (optional, for color and flavor)
– 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
– 1 bay leaf
– 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
– 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
– 6 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth for a non-vegetarian version)
– 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for added brightness, optional)
– Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish, optional)