Lentil soup

Middle Eastern lentil soup

Red lentil soup

Lentil soup (Arabic: شوربة العدس‎ Shurabet al-`adas, Turkish: Mercimek Çorbası, Hebrew: נזיד עדשים‎ nezid `adashim, Greek: φακή,φακές faki/fakes, Hungarian: lencse) is a soup of lentils, served hot. It is popular all over the Middle East, Hungary and Germany. Also in Hungary and Germany a more thick version is more popular called lencse főzelék.^[1] Usually it is vegetarian, but can also be made with meat stock. Red or green lentils may be used. Other ingredients may include vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, celery, parsley, and onion. Common added flavorings include garlic, cumin, lemon juice, olive oil, and vinegar. It is sometimes garnished with croutons or chopped herbs.

Lentil soup is mentioned in the Bible: In Genesis 25:34, Esau is prepared to give up his birthright for a pot of fragrant red lentil soup (a "mess of pottage") being cooked by his brother, Jacob.^[2]

The ancient Greek dramatist, Aristophanes, mentions lentil soup in his plays and describes it as the "sweetest of delicacies."^[1]

Lentil soup was once a food for the poor. Today, it is recognized as highly nutritious, particularly as a good source of protein, fiber, iron and potassium.^[3]

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on Lentil soup

References

See also

• List of soups

External links

• Lentil soup recipe
• Lentil soup recipe with just four ingredients