This red lentil soup is incredibly comforting, simple, and easy to throw together with the bare minimum of ingredients. Top it with a couple of crisp grilled shrimp, and it reaches a totally new level of deliciousness!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients List for the Red Lentil Shrimp Soup
Serves 4
For the soup:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
- 1 cup red lentils
- 4 cups water + 1 bouillon cube (or low-sodium broth)
- 1 whole bay leaf
- Cilantro
- Cayenne powder or paprika
- Fresh cracked pepper
The Shrimp
- 8 raw shrimps, shelled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and fresh cracked pepper
- Fresh thyme
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. In a medium saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, stir to combine, then cover let sweat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add a tablespoon of tomato paste, stir well and cook for one minute.
2. Add the lentils and cook for 2 minutes, time to coat with tomato paste and onions. Add water or broth, cayenne (or paprika) and bay leaf. Bring up to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and let simmer, covered, until the lentils begin to fall apart, about 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet and cook the shrimp stirring regularly, 1 minute on each side. Season with salt and pepper and remove the skillet from the heat. Let the shrimp finish cooking off the fire for a couple of minutes. Set aside.
4. Remove the lentils from heat, remove bay leaf, add chopped cilantro, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Mix with an immersion bender until smooth. Ladle into cups or bowls and serve, topped with grilled shrimp and sprinkled with pepper and thyme.
Note: You can add a teaspoon of cajun spice blend, garam masala, or Italian herbs to spice things up a bit if you like. Just add the spices in along with the lentils and broth.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
