As autumn approaches each year, I think about soup. I will eat soup any time of year, but on cool evenings, it is sustaining and comforting. Add bread and salad, and you’re ready to eat.
I make most of my soups in a crock pot, so it’s a quick and easy dinner (though does require some thought around lunch time about what’s for supper). A crock pot full of soup makes enough for several lunches and dinners later in the week. Or to freeze. And all afternoon, you get to smell it cooking.
Lentil soup is one of my favorites. It’s tasty, full of protein (particularly when I add meat, which I usually do), and requires no advance soaking like beans do. It’s my go-to meal when I’m busy throughout the day but have responsibility for dinner.
I don’t really have a recipe for lentil soup—I throw whatever I have on hand in with a bag of lentils and let it simmer for hours.
Here’s the way I made it most recently:
1 pound lentils
1 onion, diced
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 package of diced ham
1 package of Polish kielbasa, sliced
2 Tbsp of Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp of garlic salt
Some leftover fresh basil (I’ve never put this in before)
1/2 cup of sliced carrots (Yes, even though I hate cooked carrots. I pick them out when I eat it.)
A bottle of beer (I usually use wine, but the beer was getting old)
2 cups of water (you may need more—lentils are thirsty little legumes)
I think that’s all.
It was really good. Anything with kielbasa and beer will turn out fine.
What is your favorite quick and easy meal?
With a cool and rainy weekend in the forecast, I was just thinking this morning, a good soup in the crock pot would be nice. I love to cook in the crock pot. Your recipe sounds yummy and a lot like my chili recipe, just throw whatever you feel like.
Yes, that’s the way to cook!
Oh comfort food for the Autumn. My favourite crock pot food has to be chilli.
http://pinkiebag.com/
Mmmmm. Sounds good! I’ll have to try it. Did the people in your new book coming out eat lentil soup?
Sally,
In all my research on the Oregon Trail, I never saw a mention of lentils. Beans, yes. Lentils, no. But lentils are so much easier!
Theresa
It’s a myth that you have to pre-soak beans. I never do. Just put them in and boil them till they’re done. (I learned this from the Daily Soup Cookbook, so I have a citation!) Chickpeas take a while. Black-eyed peas don’t take any longer than lentils.
Martha, if the bag says pre-soak, then my husband insists on pre-soaked. Though I have used the quick soak method, and I would think the crock pot is the equivalent.