Red Lentil Soup

---

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup Red Lentils 
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil 
• 1 big onion chopped 
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 big carrots chopped up 
• 3 cloves of garlic crushed 
• 1 teaspoon cumin 
• 1 pinch of cayenne or chill powder 
• 1/2 lemon 
• 30 fluid ounces/ 900ml of chicken stock 
• 20 fluid ounces / 600 ml water 
• Salt and Pepper 

Instructions:

1. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a big pot or dutch oven And Heat on high. Add onions and garlic and cook till golden about 3 mins.

2. Stir in tomato paste, cumin, salt, black pepper and a PINCH of chili powder or cayenne, salt and pepper and fry for 2 minutes.

3. Add stock and water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partially cover the pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. 

4. Using an immersion blender, purée the soup a bit, but not totally, leave some recognizable carrots. The soup should be a little lumpy.

5. Taste and add more salt if needed.

6. Add a good squeeze of lemon juice.