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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Weekend Cooking: Saturday Soup

Winter weekends are made for soup. This week's offering comes from Wegmans, my favorite grocery store. I've been making this spinach lentil soup for years.


Spinach Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Italian Classics Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 jar (16 oz.) Food You Feel Good About Salsa
  • 1 1/4 cup dry lentils, rinsed
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 pkg (10 oz.) fresh spinach, stemmed

Directions:
1. Heat oil in soup pot on LOW.  Add onion and carrots; cook, covered, on low for 5 minutes.

2. Add salsa, lentils, spinach, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to LOW and simmer, covered, for 30 to 40 minutes until lentils are tender.

My notes:

  • I used organic green lentils.
  • Instead of 6 cups water, I used 4 cups chicken broth and 2 cups water. (Margaret would have preferred vegetable broth or just water)  
  • I also waited until the last 10 - 15 minutes to add the spinach.

Visiting Wegmans website this morning, I noticed the recipe has been updated to include matchstick carrots and Goya red lentils. The new recipe can be found here.  Matchstick carrots would make the soup seem even heartier, and I'm willing to give red lentils a chance, too. I wonder if they have a different taste...

Weekend Cooking, hosted at Beth Fish Reads, is open to anyone with a food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button, head over to Beth Fish Reads, and link up anytime over the weekend.

14 comments:

Beth F said...

I love Wegman's too! This soup sounds like my kind of soup. Yummmmmm. Red lentils have a slightly different taste and texture and are smaller (I think). The carrots sound like a good addition.

Staci said...

I can always count on you for great soup recipes...I must make this sometime!!

serendipity_viv said...

Wegman's sounds cool. This soup is definitely on my list of things to try. I do like a filling soup!

Nan said...

My kind of soup! Thank you, and I'll make it when I have some spinach. I have some French black lentils so I'll probably use them.
And I LOVE your header picture.

Chinoiseries said...

I love this combination :) I think I'd sub for red lentils (cook faster I think?), but for the rest? Perfect comforting food.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

This sounds wonderful JoAnn, and not too complicated either.

caite said...

sadly, no Wegmans around here.
but the salsa..that is interesting.

Tamara said...

Great Idea! Was just wondering what'd be on for dinner tonight. I think I've got most of the ingredients here. Thanks. ps, it's not winter here (Aus) but I suspect it's going to be nice anyway :)

JoAnn said...

Beth F - I see a lentil comparison experiment in my future, lol!

Staci - I love soup and have been trying some great new recipes lately. It's the least I can so to share ;-)

Viv - Someday Wegmans will rule the world! They're always listed among best employers, have top quality goods, innovative marketing... good thing they are almost 25 min away or I'd be there daily.

Nan - We though that header picture was perfect for this blog... so glad you like it, too!

Chinoiseries - I will give red lentils a try next time I make this.

Diane - It's simple, quick, and delicious... a combination I cannot resist!

Caite - I've come across a couple soup recipes calling for a jar of salsa... you can choose mild, med, or hot to suit your taste.

Tamara - I'm envious of your weather... winter has been extra long and snowy this year! Hope you like the soup.

Col (Col Reads) said...

I love Wegmans stores, but don't really look at their recipes. I think I'll take a look next time our Menu magazine comes. Thanks!

JoAnn said...

Col - Wegmans is the best! I use quite a few of their recipes from Menu magazine

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

We don't have Wegmans near our home but this soup sounds delicious!! Warm and cozy too!

Heather said...

I really like the idea of the shredded carrots. I think that the red lentils tend to fall apart whereas the green lentils keep their shape.

JoAnn said...

Peppermint PhD - It definitely is!

Heather - That's what I found when I was reading about red lentils... not sure of if the taste is different, too. Will have to experiment :-)