Recipe: Spicy Mixed Vegetable Soup (Squash, Potato, Corn, Lentil, Purple Kale)

I had a bunch of things form the market this weekend and a little tickle in my throat, so I decided to make myself a soup.

INGREDIENTS:
1 medium-large Butternut Squash; peeled, cored and chopped
1 large Onion, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Red Pepper, cored and chopped
3 medium Potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 can Lentils, divided
4 cobs Corn, de-cobbed
1 bunch Purple Kale, stemmed and chopped
12 cups Water, approximately 

 In a large stock pot, heat oil and add squash, onion, garlic and peppers. Heat until soft.

 Add spices and stir to coat. Add enough water to fill the pot up about half way (app. 12 cups) and bring to a boil.










 Add 1/2 can of lentils and reduce heat to a simmer until potatoes become soft. Put a hand blender at the bottom of the pot and blend until it becomes smooth and sort of creamy like this:

If it's too thick, add a little more water. If it seems thin, it will thicken as time goes on.

Add the rest of the lentils and the corn and cook on medium for 5-10 minutes. Add the kale and simmer until it softens up. After that, you can eat immediately or simmer to allow the flavours to mix a little better.

Gluten-Free February - Spiced Lentils and Rice

INGREDIENTS:
1 can Lentils (or 1.5 dry cups lentils rinsed & cooked according to package)
1 cup Rice
2 cups Water (plus more for after)
1 Small Onion, minced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 Cardamom Pods, crushed/chopped
1/2 tsp Coriander
3/4 tsp Cumin
1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
dash Ginger (fresh or powdered)
1 tsp Lemon Juice
1/2 Large Tomato, thinly sliced
Sea Salt & Pepper


Boil water in a pot with a lid. Add rice and a dash of salt, turn to low and cover for 18 Minutes (DO NOT TOUCH). At about eight minutes into the rice cooking, saute onions and garlic in a large non-stick pan for 3 minutes, stirring often. Add lentils and stir in spices, lemon juice and a dash of sea salt and fresh ground pepper. When the 18 minutes is up, add rice and any remaining water to the pan and stir to mix, adding more water if it becomes dry. Serve on a plate with thinly sliced tomatoes. Top tomatoes with a pinch of sea salt and some fresh ground pepper.