Shorbat Adas — Red Lentil Soup
The soup that opens Iftar from Cairo to Damascus to Amman. Gentle on an empty stomach, ready in half an hour, and cheap enough to make in quantity.
Why it works for Iftar
- A warm, thin soup is far easier on a stomach that has been empty all day than a heavy dish straight away.
- Lentils bring protein and fibre, so it is a genuine course rather than just a warm drink.
- It is mostly liquid, which starts replacing fluid immediately.
Ingredients
- 300 g red lentilsrinsed until the water runs clear
- 1 large onionabout 150 g, chopped
- 2 carrotsabout 160 g, chopped
- 3 garlic clovescrushed
- 1.5 litres vegetable or chicken stock
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp saltadjust to the saltiness of your stock
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 lemonjuiced, added at the end
- 4 tbsp fresh corianderchopped, to serve
Method
- 1Soften the vegetables8 min
Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrot and cook for 8 minutes until softened but not browned.
- 2Add garlic and spices2 min
Stir in the garlic, 1.5 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp coriander. Cook 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
- 3Add lentils and stock2 min
Tip in the rinsed lentils, pour over 1.5 litres stock, add 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, and bring to a boil.
- 4Simmer25 min
Reduce to a low simmer, cover partially, and cook for 25 minutes until the lentils have collapsed completely. Skim any foam in the first few minutes.
- 5Blend2 min
Blend until smooth with a hand blender. For a thinner soup add hot stock a ladle at a time until it pours easily from the spoon.
- 6Finish1 min
Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and taste for salt. Serve with fresh coriander and lemon wedges.
Notes that make the difference
- Rinse the lentils properly. Unrinsed lentils foam heavily and the soup tastes muddy.
- Add the lemon at the very end. Simmered lemon juice loses its brightness.
Storing and reheating
Keeps 4 days refrigerated and freezes for 3 months. It thickens on standing — loosen with stock or water.
Substitutions
- Add 1 diced potato with the carrot for a thicker soup.
- A spoonful of rice cooked in with the lentils is common in Levantine versions.
Cooking times assume a standard domestic hob and oven and will vary with your equipment. No nutritional figures are given: calculating them reliably needs the exact brand and weight of every ingredient, and an invented number would be worse than none. If you are managing a health condition, follow your doctor’s dietary advice.