Kuwaiti Food Spot - With thanks to Marybeth Alawadh Ortua

Lentil soup /shorbat adas al ahmar is main ingredient for many authentic Levantine dishes. It’s believed to be one of the oldest cultivated legumes in the region. Having a quick look at its nutritional facts, lentils are rich in fiber, protein, and vitamin C and low in calories which makes it a super healthy and veggie friendly option😍. While learning about the importance and meaning of Ramadan, it's a common household dish to break the fast at the end of the day in Kuwait. This soup is often the first course of iftar when eaten at home and it is delicious! This is a simple soup, but don’t be deceived – it’s quite flavorful. The key is to add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice into your bowl of soup before eating it & usually topped with oven roasted pita bread cut into squares drizzled with organic olive oil.

There are various different recipes some are unblended and some add a little vermicelli and loumi (dried lime).


Lentil Soup 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups brown lentils
• 2 quarts chicken stock (or your choice)
• 1 large onion, quartered
• 2 tablespoons garlic, chopped or sliced
• 1 medium tomatoes, quartered
• 2 tablespoons butter, less if desired
• 1 medium onion, sliced thinly
• 1 teaspoon cumin, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash lentils thoroughly and soak if desired.
2. I never soak them, and they always seem to cook up quickly.
3. Bring stock to a boil.
4. Add quartered onion, garlic, tomato and lentils.
5. Return to boil, then lower heat and allow to simmer, partially covered, until lentils are tender.
6. The amount of time will depend on the freshness of the lentils and whether or not they were soaked, but plan on an hour to an hour and a half.
7. Over-cooking wouldn't be a problem since this is a blended soup, but under-cooking would.
8. As lentils approach tenderness, melt butter in a small frying pan over medium-low heat.
9. Add thinly sliced onion and allow to fry until very dark brown.
10. Add cumin, saute briefly.
11. Add mixture to soup and stir through.
12. Ladle one ladle-full of soup at a time into a blender or food processor.
13. Using a dishtowel, hold lid down and process soup until homogenous.
14. When soup has been completely pureed, return to a pot and reheat until ready to serve.
15. Enjoy!