As soon as I put this soup together on the stove the aroma immediately brought me back to Egypt. During my trip I had become quite familiar of the scent of cumin, coriander, and lentils mingling together, since lentil soup was served at almost every lunch and dinner. Far from being monotonous, I enjoyed my new relationship with lentils, a legume I routinely overlook in my own cooking.

Lentils have a very long history in Egypt; they are depicted in hieroglyphics and have been found in archeological remains dating way back to 6000 B.C.E. Obviously, the Egyptians have been on to something. Lentils are a quick-cooking, high-protein vegetable that can stand on their own or be integrated into salads and soups. High in fiber, lentils help control insulin and blood sugar, and they also contain anti-cancer properties.

With all of these nutritional highlights in mind, I am planning on integrating more lentils into my diet, and this soup was a delicious start. [click to continue…]

{ 5 comments }