Arabic Lentil Soup

The Lebanese version of mom's (veggie) chicken soup

After enjoying the wonderfully satisfying lentil soups served in so many restaurants around the region, I came up with this version to make at home. It’s a cream-less, yet creamy and comforting soup that freezes well. I never tire of it!

PREP TIME 15 minutes
COOKING TIME 40 minutes
SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 ½ cups)
1 celery rib, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
6 cups water or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon salt (you will need more if using water or unsalted broth), plus additional for seasoning
1 ½ cups split red lentils* (sometimes called Mysore dal), rinsed and picked over
Freshly ground black pepper
Lemon wedges and thinly sliced red onions for garnish (optional)
PREPARATION
• Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat.
• Add onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, just to soften. Do not brown.
• Add cumin and coriander. Cook another 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
• Add water or broth and salt and bring to a boil.
• Add lentils. Return to a boil, then lower heat, partially cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until lentils are soft and falling apart. Cool slightly.
• Puree about ¾ of soup in a blender or use an immersion blender in the pot.
• Return all soup to pot, season with salt and pepper.
• Serve hot with lemon and onion garnishes.
* You can use whole red lentils but the soup might require more water or broth, and additional cooking time.

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A bit harsh, but much of it true...actually, I think most of it's true; it's just not the only truth. What's even more interesting and more telling is that when I went to buy this issue here in Dubai, pages 127-132 were ripped out! (Yes, I checked several copies.) I know these missing pages were where the article should have been because on page 133, which would have been the last page of the scathing expose, there were pictures of Dubai that had obviously gone with the article. Even weirder, the article wasn't in the US edition at all! The pages weren't ripped out of course, but contained ads. Palace intrigue.

Dubai on Empty Culture: vanityfair.com