Some of my favorite dishes are made from lentils. They are quick to cook, delicious to eat and cheap to buy. The only downfall is that my big kids won't eat them. They are so missing out.
When I was in high school I worked as a waitress at a Mediterranean restaurant. I was a small place run by a sweet man from Jordan. They had the best food and it really expanded my horizons. Before working there, I only ever ate pasta or some good old Kentucky granny cooking. No offense to either, but oh the flavors that I had been missing out on! I have been trying to find comparable recipes lately. I have come across a lot of duds, but this one is a winner.
Red Lentil Soup
6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups red lentils
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 onion minced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
a pinch of cayenne pepper
Bring stock and lentils to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until they pop.
Meanwhile saute onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the cumin and cayenne and saute for another minute.
Add lentils and onions to your food processor and puree.
I serve with lemon wedges and sprinkle fresh parsley on top when I'm feeling fancy. I also like to have zatar pita on the side. To make that you brush olive oil on a soft flatbread type pita, sprinkle zatar seasoning on top and toast. It is so good.