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Leftovers Lentil Soup
























This is my entry for this month's No Croutons Required, where leftovers reign. After a quick perusal of my fridge and cupboards, I realised I would have to shop soon, but I had enough store cupboard essentials to get me by for a few days. I had a few carrots and a bit of celery left in the salad drawer, but that was about it. Throw in an onion and I figured that would make a good base for a lentil soup.

Leftovers Lentil Soup

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, finely sliced
4 carrots, finely chopped
1 tsp chilli powder
4 pints/ 8 cups vegetable stock
1 ¼ cups red lentils
3 tsp balsamic vinegar
¾ cup coconut milk
salt and pepper


Saute the onion and celery in the olive oil until softened, then add the carrots. Cook gently for a few minutes. Sprinkle in the chilli powder and the stir in the vegetable stock before adding the red lentils. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 20 - 30 minutes, until the lentils have softened. Make sure to stir the soup occasionally to prevent the lentils from sticking to the pan. Add the balsamic vingear and coconut milk, then season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper before serving.

Serves 6-8

The chilli has a bit of a kick. If you are nervous of adding it, then just add half a teaspoon to begin with and add more at the end if you would like it hotter. If you have made it too hot, you can cool it down with more coconut milk, milk or soya milk.

There is still time to submit an entry to this month's No Croutons Required. You have until close of day on the 20th October 2009. So why not have a look at what you have sitting in your fridge and store cupboards and see if you can whip up a vegetarian soup or salad. The full rules can be found here.



In other news, I now have a shiny new laptop to replace the one that died. Yay! Having no pc for a week and a half was not pleasant, but I do so love my new laptop. I decided to upgrade to a Sony VGN-NW11SS and it is fab.

20 comments

  1. Your soup looks warming suited to these autumnal nights.

    Enjoy your new lap top, I remember that 'new gadget' feeling!

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  2. It has started getting chilly here, & this soup is so right, not overly wintry .. just mild & soothing.

    Don't know if i can participate this time:-( haven't been writing new posts for a long time now. I thought of sending in my recent salad, as I had got the rice free.. but that is not frugal.

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  3. It is great Mangocheeks, although, boy can the hours disappear while you set it up and load everything back on.

    That's ok Soma, you have submitted so many delicious recipes. You are due a break :)

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  4. This really sounds yummy! No coconut milk / cream, though? ;)

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  5. Lentils soup is such a good repository for leftovers. I'm intrigued by the combination of balsamic and coconut milk. I'd quite happily use either, but never thought of using *both*, Lovely idea Jacqueline.

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  6. Hi Davimack, it would still be good without the coconut milk, but I think it finishes it off nicely.

    Hi Kathryn, it is just a small amount of balsamic, but it does change the base flavour of the soup.

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  7. love your cup and your soup - good luck with your new laptop - the shiny new gadget is exciting but I remember how much work it took to get my new laptop up to speed

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  8. Soup is perfect for fall and this one looks delicious. I love lentils! Can't wait to give this a try!

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  9. lentils and coconut milk...that sounds wonderful!

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  10. We love our lentil soups too. Jacqueline, your soup looks so comforting; it's cooling down in our neck of the woods too. And yes, we had soup yesterday :-)

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  11. It does take ages Johanna, I still haven't got everything loaded yet and I spent hours doing it yesterday.

    I hope you enjoy it then Laura :)

    Thanks Sala, it is a very tasty combination, especially when there are spices involved.

    Yep, it is definitely soup time of year again Sunita :)

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  12. the magical ingredient for me here is the coconut milk--what a fantastic touch! i always appreciate a fine way to use up leftovers, and this definitely qualifies as such!

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  13. The soup looks wonderful - and the bowl! I just love the bowl.

    Yay for the new computer. It took forever to get my new computer set up, too, but worth the time.

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  14. love that photo! lentil soup is always great, lentils overall really...:)

    congrats on your new computerized friend!

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  15. I don't care that much for lentils, but I love that cute cup!

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  16. Thanks Sophie :)

    Hi Grace, coconut milk is such a great ingredient to have in the store cupboard, it works so well in so many dishes and you don't have to use a lot.

    I keep forgetting about these bowls Andrea, as they are nestled at the back of a cupboard. I should bring them out more often.

    Thanks Pia :)

    Hi Pam, it does add a nice splash of colour :)

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  17. This looks like a great lentil soup! I've never had lentil soup made with coconut milk - we'll definitely have to give that a try.

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  18. Hope you enjoy it B & W, heck, I know you will :)

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  19. What a perfect way to use leftovers--this sounds just lovely. I've missed out on NCR for so long now--must get it together to participate next time!

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  20. That's a sleek looking machine...and soup too. Amazing how much we depend on computers and stuff and how much of a hassle it can be to be without them, even for only a short while.

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x