Mainely Dish Recipe Video: Hearty Lentil Soup

You glance out your window and can’t help but notice that the beautiful Maine winter is back and greeting you again with frost in the air and an abundance of snow. You grab the softest blanket you own and cuddle up on the couch to watch your favorite show, but something is missing? Ah of course, a nice hot bowl of delicious soup! This hearty lentil soup will bring you back to snow days at your grandma’s, with the added benefit of being high in protein and fiber, as well as an array of vitamins including folate, vitamin A, thiamin, iron, and plenty more.

 

For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to try lentils yet, don’t be timid! Lentils are a part of the legume family and are inexpensive plant-based alternatives to meat, providing 9 grams of protein per half-cup. Read the Where Do You Get Your Protein? A Helpful Guide To Plant-Based Protein Options post for more information about plant-based protein. In this dish, lentils take on the flavor of the broth and onion, giving the familiar flavor resemblance to chicken noodle soup. The texture of lentils is very similar to that of split peas and beans, depending on how they are cooked. 

 

Learn more about the additional benefits of lentils in our All About Dried Beans, Peas, and Lentils post and in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. This one-pot recipe can be made using common pantry items and low-cost produce, making it the perfect staple for your holiday season!

 

Visit our recipe website for the Hearty Lentil Soup recipe and recipe video.

 

Resources:

All About Dried Beans, Peas, and Lentils

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025

Hearty Lentil Soup recipe and recipe video

Where Do You Get Your Protein? A Helpful Guide To Plant-Based Protein Options

 

By Kayla Parsons, UMaine Dietetic Intern