Hearty Lentil Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 1 cupDried Lentils

  Instead: 2½ cups Canned Lentils

• 6 cupsVegetable Broth

  Instead: 6 cups Water

• 1 onionYellow Onion
• 1½ cups choppedCarrot
• 1 cupCelery
• 3 clovesGarlic
• 1 tbspOlive Oil
• 1 tspCumin
• 1 tspTable Salt
• ½ tsp, groundBlack Pepper

Instructions

1. Rinse the dried lentils. If using canned lentils instead, drain and rinse them and hold them aside until the final 10 minutes of cooking.
2. Chop the yellow onion, carrot, and celery, and mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and cook the vegetables for 6 to 8 minutes until they begin to soften.
3. Stir in the cumin, table salt, and black pepper. Add the vegetable broth or water.
4. For dried lentils, add them now, bring the soup to a gentle boil, and simmer for about 30 minutes until tender. For canned lentils, simmer the broth and vegetables for 20 minutes, add the canned lentils, and simmer for 10 minutes more.
5. Taste the lentil vegetable soup, adjust only with the listed seasonings if needed, and serve hot.