I found this recipe in a Martha Stewart magazine as I was wanting more uses for lentils. The red lentils have a much different flavor than brown ones, and I really love them. I use dried cranberries in place of cherries since I usually have them in the house. I've also used garam masala spice mix rather than the curry powder and that flavor is excellent too. You can also just buzz the soup with an immersion blender rather than straining it. It's fine without doing that too.
Curried Lentil Soup with Dried Cherries and Cilantro
INGREDIENTS
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped peeled ginger (from a 2-inch piece)
- 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped (2 tablespoons)
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped (4 tablespoons)
- 2 carrots, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- Coarse salt
- 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1/3 cup chopped dried cherries
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro stems, plus 3 tablespoons cilantro leaves for garnish
DIRECTIONS
- Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic, shallot, and carrots and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add curry powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 4 cups water, and the lentils, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until lentils and carrots are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour 2 cups soup through a fine sieve into a bowl, reserving solids. Puree strained liquid with remaining soup in a blender until smooth. Reheat after blending. Stir in reserved solids.
- Reserving some for garnish, stir cherries and cilantro stems into soup, and ladle into bowls. Swirl in remaining 1/4 cup coconut milk, and garnish with cherries and cilantro leaves.
