Ingredients
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, and cayenne. Stir for 1 minute, then add the tomato paste and cook 1 minute more.
- Pour in the vegetable broth and diced tomatoes with their juices, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil.
- Stir in the rinsed red lentils. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the lentils are tender, about 15 to 18 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls, top with cilantro or parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
The soup thickens as it cools, so add a splash of broth or water when reheating. For extra depth, swap the cayenne for a spoonful of harissa stirred in at the end.
