Green Lentil Soup With Coconut Milk, Spinach and Warm Spices

Continuing the spring soup binge, this one proved tasty. I had to run out for coconut milk* when my pantry, dubbed “the bomb shelter” by my Marine nephew, failed me.  Now I feel much better with my cache of 6 or 7 extra cans.**

I found this recipe on Pinterest from www.travelerslunchbox.com. I used chicken broth, whole baby spinach leaves and, for the cooking fat, half coconut oil and half olive-canola oil. The Indian spices are gentle here.

I only wish I had noticed and popped that big bubble in the photo.

Indian-Spiced Green Lentil Soup With Coconut Milk and Spinach

1 1/2 cups French green lentils (brown lentils work in a pinch)
6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 bushy sprig fresh thyme
1 1/2 tsp. turmeric
3 tablespoons butter, vegetable or coconut oil, or combination
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
A pinch of ground nutmeg
1 can coconut milk
10 to 12 oz. fresh spinach, chard or kale, washed, tough stems discarded and cut into ribbons
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Rinse the lentils and pick out any debris. Combine them in a pot with the stock, thyme and turmeric and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer until the lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Fish out the thyme and discard.

While the lentils are cooking, heat the butter or oil in a skillet and sauté the onion over medium heat, stirring frequently, until browned and caramelized in places, about 10-15 minutes. Add the garlic and spices and fry just until deeply aromatic, about a minute. Scrape the contents of the skillet into the pot with the lentils, and add the coconut milk and optional greens. Bring everything back to a simmer and cook another 10 minutes, or until the flavors have blended and the greens are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot.

*Coconut milk is always cheaper at an Asian market. Sesame seeds, tofu, baby bok choy and fresh ginger are deals, too.

**What’s your point? I have even more cans of crushed tomatoes and chicken broth and more bags of granola. Life’s essentials.