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Publications International, Ltd., the Editors of.  "Middle Eastern Lentil Soup."  31 August 2006.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/middle-eastern-lentil-soup-recipe.htm>  13 October 2008.

Middle Eastern Lentil Soup Photo
Middle Eastern Lentil Soup
Yield: Makes 4 servings
Nothing takes the chill off a blustery day like a bowl of hearty soup, and lentils make this one a nutritional winner. They're a good source of fiber as well as calcium, iron and phosphorous.
Ingredients:
1
cup dried lentils

2
tablespoons olive oil

1
onion, chopped

1
medium red bell pepper, chopped

1
teaspoon fennel seeds

1/2
teaspoon ground cumin

1/4
teaspoon ground red pepper

4
cups water

1/2
teaspoon salt

1
tablespoon lemon juice

1/2
cup plain low-fat yogurt

2
tablespoons chopped fresh parsley



Preparation:
1.
Rinse lentils, discarding any debris or blemished lentils; drain.

2.
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion and bell pepper; cook and stir 5 minutes or until tender. Add fennel seeds, cumin and ground red pepper; cook and stir 1 minute.

3.
Add water and lentils. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes. Stir in salt. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until lentils are tender. Stir in lemon juice.

4.
To serve, ladle soup into individual bowls and top with yogurt; sprinkle with parsley.


Tip: For a special touch, top each serving with yellow bell pepper strips.

Nutritional Information:
Serving Size: 1 cup soup
Fiber 16 g
Carbohydrate 35 g
Cholesterol 2 mg
Saturated Fat 1 g
Total Fat 8 g
Calories from Fat 26 %
Calories 266
Protein 16 g
Sodium 320 mg
Dietary Exchange:
Meat 1
Vegetable 1
Starch 2
Fat 1


This recipe appears in: Middle Eastern