One of my favorite Italian/Mediterranean restaurants has a pureed red lentil soup that is to die for! I’ve been on a mission to recreate it, and I think I’ve succeeded. Now instead of spending 5 bucks on a cup of soup, I can make a whole pot for the same price!
(Note: Red lentils are much smaller than other types of lentils and therefore, don’t need to be soaked ahead of time. My grocery store carries the Bob’s Red Mill brand and the Goya brand. Also, a hand-held immersion blender is a great investment and the perfect tool for making pureed soups. I also use it for potato-leek soup and squash soup!)

1-1/2 cups red lentils, uncooked
6 cups veggie broth/water
2 med potatoes, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 small can tomato sauce
1 Tblsp lemon juice (optional)

Bring broth/water and tomato sauce to a boil
Add red lentils
Add potatoes and carrots
Add herbs and spices (I use salt, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and curry powder)
Simmer for 25 min.
At the end, add lemon juice (this adds some freshness and acidity)

You can eat this soup at this point (i.e. chunky), or puree with hand-held immersion blender.
(I prefer it pureed, but it’s good either way!)

Enjoy with a green salad or some garlic bread, or both!