Lentil Chili
Warm hearty comfort food at its best!
Nutrient dense goodness, lentils have a variety of health benefits. They are heart healthy, good protein that will increase your energy. I've given these earthy legumes a fresh new pop! It makes for a mouth watering combination. Truth be told, I always hated lentil soup...until I made my own. Many restaurant made lentil soups sit for long periods of time and get mushy. Im not a mushy kinda soup person. And if you have ever had lentil soup from a can...well yuck. So, my love for lentil soup was actually inspired by my love for sprouted and fermented foods. I had started sprouting lentils to add into my salads and I loved them. I then decided to try my hand at my own lentil soup. This recipe is most definitely MY personal style, leaving the lentils a bit "al dente," adding a bit of heat, and that warm earthy taste of cinnamon and hemp seeds mmmmm. I hope you enjoy it!
RECIPE
- In a medium sized stock pot, sauté 6 cloves of diced garlic & 1/2 of a white roughly chopped onion over low heat
- Add just a bit of coconut oil
- Sauté until the onions are translucent and the garlic is a bit browned
- Add in the 1 1/4 cups pf lentils and let them toast for about 2 minutes, while stirring
- Tip: Be sure to let them toast just a bit here, this is the magic step, it adds a rich flavor that other lentil soups won't have!
- Add one cup of broth
- Add 1 tsp of Paprika, 1/2 tsp of Cayenne pepper, and 1/2 tbls of Cinnamon
- Stir for 1 minute
- Add 1/2 cup frozen organic corn kernals
- Add 3 diced tomato's or 1 can of ORGANIC BPA free diced with juices
- Add 4 tbls tomato paste
- Add 5 more cups of vegetable broth
- Cook for 35-45 minutes, low heat, lid on
- Test the lentils while they are cooking. We want that "al dente" bite, not mush.
- Once they are done to your liking, turn off the heat
- Add a few pinches of salt & pepper for taste
Add the soup to a bowl, garnish with hemp hearts and fresh chives. Don't skip the chives, they really take this chili to the next level! If you really want to get wild, add a dollop of vegan sour cream!
The whole family will be asking for more of this recipe, I'm sure of it! YUM! Let us know how you like it! Be sure to TAG @danielle.billotti on Instagram and use the hashtag #deetoxyourliferecipes! We love seeing our recipes in action! ENJOY!