Recipe

Simple Lentil Soup in the Pakistani Manner

Simple Lentil Soup in the Pakistani Manner

Photo by shayma

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Home Alone Dinner
  • Chef

    shayma's Notes: This is a dish I prepare when I am at home alone, when my husband is working long hours. This was also my go-to dish when I was a single girl- I would let the lentils simmer for 30 mins, while...

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Serves 1 with leftovers for the next day

  1. In this recipe, the ratios are most important. I use a small teacup to prepare mine, you can use the American cups measurement, as long as you use the same proportions. My teacup is approximately 2/3 of an American cup measurement. For my recipe, the ratio of red lentils to mung lentils should always be 3:1, with the salt and cayenne pepper adjusted according to the amount you decide to make.

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  2. Plonk into a medium-sized heavy bottom pan, (mine is 8in): lentils, salt, haldi, cayenne pepper, garlic clove, tomato sauce (if you dont have the tomato sauce/passata/diced tomatoes, don't worry about opening a brand new can, you can omit it, you won't be compromising on the taste of the end result) and boiling water.

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  3. Place it on a low-medium flame, cover with lid, but not completely, so as to allow some steam to escape, otherwise the lentils will overflow- you don't want a yellow protein mess on your stovetop- take my word for it! ;-)

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  4. Let it simmer for 30 minutes. You will see that the two breeds of lentils will finally become a velvety puree, indistinguishable from each other; this means it is ready. Smoosh the garlic clove with the back of your ladle, it will blend right in.

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  5. Drizzle with yoghurt, add some diced tomatoes (optional) and coriander/cilantro leaves (optional).

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  6. Open a bottle of Falanghina or Vermentino. And if you're like me, set your table for one, and eat there with your best linen and cutlery, so what if you're eating alone, right?

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7 Comments on Simple Lentil Soup in the Pakistani Manner

52 Reply

I made this today excelent

Img_0828 Reply

Thanks Shayma! I love your soup recipes, and I know just the teacup I will use to make this one.

Lnd_jen Reply

This sounds lovely. And why not set the table just for yourself - it's part of the experience, right? :)

036 Reply

I love lentils and I love falanghina! I have a bottle in the fridge that has been staring at me for a week or so ... all I need to get is yellow lentils. Yum!

N501413281_1273671_4870 Reply

falanghina in the fridge? i think we're friends now :) many thanks for your kind words.

Winnie100 Reply

Love it! I adore mung lentils, but have never thought of combining them with red...what a great idea! The spiced and color are great and such a lovely contrast with the yogurt...yummy!

N501413281_1273671_4870 Reply

Thanks, Winnie, the yellow mung lentils tighten the soup and make is creamier than it would be without them.

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