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Mexican Lentil Soup

Mexican Lentil Soup Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 300

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 jalapeño, minced (optional)
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
  • 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for serving
  • 1 avocado, sliced, for serving

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeño; cook 5 minutes until softened. Stir in cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika; cook 30 seconds.
  2. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, broth, lentils, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes, until lentils are tender.
  3. Remove about 2 cups of soup and blend until smooth (or use an immersion blender). Stir the blended portion back into the pot.
  4. Ladle into bowls, squeeze a lime wedge over each, and top with cilantro and avocado. Serve hot.

Notes

If you swap red lentils for brown or green, increase the simmer time to 30 to 40 minutes and add an extra cup of broth.