I am making a pot of lentil soup for a dinner with friends. One of the friends is a vegan, so I figured soup would be a safe food to make. I know most people (including my mom) put pork in it. I have to avoid that. I can easily substitute vegetable broth for the stock. I’m looking for fun recipe ideas that would spice up the soup and make it great. I have the basic recipe down, but it’s very, very basic (sautee onions, garlic, celery, carrots, potato, w/bay leaf, add lentils and stock, cook). I’m looking for ideas to jazz that up while remaining vegan.
Just thought of another one. If using red lentils, the Turks have a lovely soup called mercimek corbasi. Here’s one recipe. Substitute veggie stock for chicken in that recipe.
I frequently add chopped cabbage to the lentil soup. If nobody is allergice to mushrooms, how about chunking a couple large protabellos and adding them?
I put tomatoes in mine occasionally - I love lentils and tomatoes. If I have it, chunked zucchini is added near the end so it doesn’t get too mushy. I usually also add ham, but now I’m going to try bacon and also liquid smoke in separate batches.
Count me as one who abhors “smoke” flavor and it’s hideous wet burned cardboard chemical tang. I’d rather have a soup with herbal or other flavors than that. I second the Indian angle, they do a great job with legumes.
I’ll also suggest Dhal. There are a variety of ways to make it and they’re all tasty. I don’t have the recipe here at work, but all it calls for are lentils, tomatoes, coconut milk, lime juice, veggie stock and some spices. It’s quick, easy and super good.
If you’re really attached to the idea of the more traditional soup described in the OP, I’d probably jazz it up a little by subbing sherry or dry white wine for 1/4 cup of the stock, which would give it a nice depth of flavour. I also like adding a bit of tomato paste towards the end of the cooking process since it adds another layer of flavour to your broth.
According to Heston Blumenthal (who, even though he doesn’t know it yet, is totally destined to be my husband and cook me breakfast in bed for the rest of my life), star anise and onions in combination can produce flavour compounds with a “meaty” taste. You might have some interesting results if you add half an anise pod to your onions when you caramelise them.
Now, if you’re okay with going in a totally different direction, The Moosewood Daily Special cookbook has a spectacular recipe for a Egyptian Lentil Soup, which is vegan-friendly and a totally different experience from the traditional lentil soup you’re probably used to. Stir in a dash of hot sauce or sambal, and you’re in heaven… it’s the only bacon-free lentil soup that I bother with.