Grandma's Lentil Soup

     Growing up in an Italian household, there was always food around for any reason and occasion.  I'm talking about even if it was a Monday my family would find a reason to put together a 4 course meal with Italian cookies to finish.  Once I made the decision to become a vegetarian, a lot of the dishes I grew up with I was suddenly unable to enjoy.  One of my favorite dishes that I can still eat is the homemade lentil soup that my grandmother would make from scratch.  Lentils are a great source of protein, low in calories, high in fiber, provides a great source of important minerals and virtually no fat. Sigh me up sista!!!!  You can enjoy lentils many different ways but my favorite is in a delicious hearty homemade soup.  My grandma taught me how to make it and has been a classic in our household for quite some time.

Ingredients:
- EVOO
- 3 cloves of garlic
- Salt/Pepper
- 2 bay leafs
- sprinkle of hot pepper (more if you want it on the hotter side)
- 1 1/2 Cups of lentils
- 3 cups of water
- 1 bag of celery (roughly 5-8 stalks) chopped
- 1 bag of carrots (larger pieces cut in 1/2)

Directions:

1. Set large pot on medium heat & fill the bottom of the pan with EVOO
2. Add chopped garlic and sauté until golden
3. Add celery & carrots; season with salt/pepper & stir; cook for roughly 3-5 minutes (this will create a small broth)
4. Add water and turn on high heat; bring to boil
5. Add lentils, season with more salt/pepper; add dash of hot pepper and bay leaves to pot; stir & place on medium heat
6. Cook lentils for 45 mins to an hour or until mixture is thickened (the longer it cooks the more the flavors will cook together & will become thicker.)  I usually remove the bay leaf here but some choose to leave in for extra flavor. If mixture becomes too thick you can add another 1/2 cup of water. 

     This dish is great for lunch, an appetizer at a party or just to enjoy as a main for dinner. Add shaved parmesan cheese for an extra delicious bite to the dish.  This can also be cooked in a slow cooker however I would add only 1 cup of lentils to 3 cups of water. Leave your comments below!  Did you alter the recipe in any way? Made it better?  Tell me how!  Want to be featured as a weight loss champion? Email me at kiaramm123@me.com to tell me why 😄

As always, be happy, be healthy, be beautiful 💋 

xoxo

theCHUBBYskinnygirl