With winter well and truly on it’s way, I’m finding myself craving soup for warmth & nourishment.

Coming of the bat of living in Saudi Arabia for 2 years, desert heat – where 3/4 of the year the temperature soars…I must admit, it’s a little hard adjusting to the cooler climate here in Australia this time of year. My equilibrium is adjusting, that’s for sure!

This is deliciously creamy, super simple…nutritious, hydrating (as celery is predominately water) and detoxifying. It is great for digestion, full of antioxidants, vitamins (vit c) & minerals.

Most of these ingredients, you are most likely to have on hand!

There is no need for any additional herbs as it is flavourful, but if you like – you can add some chopped chives or parsley when serving.

INGREDIENTS:

1 leek sliced
1/2 red onion diced
2 garlic cloves diced finely
evoo
6 celery stalks sliced
1 potato cubed
1 litre organic vegetable stock

Cook the sliced leek, onion and finely diced garlic cloves in a little extra virgin olive oil over a medium heat. Cook until translucent (approximately 10 mins). Stir regularly to stop it catching.

Add the potato cubes and slice celery. Sweat for another 5 mins.

Pour in the vegetable stock, bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 mins.

When cool, blend in batches until smooth.

Season with salt & pepper.

It’s really that easy. x

Sup soup?! This healthy soup is cooked throughout the Middle East and is super simple to make, filling and flavourful! I had a bowl of lentil soup in a Syrian restaurant this past weekend whilst visiting the Souk in Qatar with friends. It blew my mind, so here I have tried to emulate that experience. I have cooked a few variations of this soup and I believe that this one is a winner.

Previously I have made this soup with red lentils. I find the yellow more delicate and subtle in flavour.

Most of these staple ingredients you are most likely to have on hand…and this soup really cooks itself!

YOU WILL NEED:

Organic extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion diced
1 clove garlic chopped finely
1 & 1/2 cups yellow lentils
4 cups organic vegetable stock
4 cups filtered water
1 tsp turmeric
1 & 1/2 tsp ground cumin
handful chopped parsley
1/2 lemon juice
himalayan sea salt
cracked black pepper
pinch sumac

Method:

Fry onion in the evoo in a heavy based pan on a moderate heat for a few minutes. Add the garlic and ground spices, turmeric and cumin. Add a pinch of himalayan sea salt and a grinding of cracked black pepper. Fry until fragrant.

Stir in the lentils to coat, add the stock and the water and cook on a medium heat for 45mins. Continue to stir during cooking to prevent the lentils from sticking.

Add the chopped parsley and the juice from the 1/2 lemon.

Allow to cool slightly. Blitz in batches in the blender until smooth.

Serve with a sprinkle of sumac, additional parsley and wedges of lemon.

Bil hana! x (Bon-appetite)