ONE-POT LENTIL SOUP WITH HERBED TOPPING

4 servings, 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Soup

• 1 tbsp ghee

• 2 leeks chopped, rinsed 

• 1 inch fresh ginger, grated 

• 1 white sweet potato, peeled and chopped (this soup does better with a less sweet, sweet potato like a white sweet potato or Japanese sweet potato)

• 1 cup green lentils, rinsed 

• 5 cups veggie broth 

• 1/4 tsp turmeric 

• 1 pinch asafoetida 

• 1 cup asparagus, rough ends chopped off, chopped into bite size peices

• 1 cup Kale, chopped, stems removed 

• Salt & pepper to taste 

• Lemon juice for topping

Herbed topping 

• 1 cup fresh herbs (whatever you have on hand, could be a mix of cilantro, parsley, dill, mint, chives etc)

• Zest of 1 lemon 

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1/3 olive oil

• Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat ghee over medium heat in a large pot. Add the leeks, saute until translucent (about 3 minutes).

2. Add the ginger and sweet potato and stir. Add the lentils, veggie broth, turmeric, and asafoetida. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Allow to simmer until lentils and potatoes are soft (about 20-25 mins). Once cooked, add the kale and asparagus and heat for an additional 5 minutes (until veggies are cooked).

3. While the lentil soup is cooking, make the herbed topping. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth. 

4. Serve soup with a dollop of the herbed topping and a spritz of lemon juice if desired. Enjoy! 

#vata #pitta #kapha #spring #winter

Notes

• Sometimes when the weather is constantly changing (one day its hot and the next its cold and rainy) we need something vata-esc (like a soup, soups are generally easy to digest), but still something that respects the season you are in (right now it is spring so we focus on kapha - lots of veggies and lentils).

• I also love incorporating fresh herbs in the spring - which is why I used this herbed topping. Fresh herbs are very uplifting and give a lot of life force (prana) to the mind and body - enhancing digestion and bettering digestion - win-win!

• Feel free to serve this on its own, with some crusty sprouted bread, or with some cumin rice!