SERVES 10 TO 12
SERVES 10 TO 12
Lentils are known to cause gas, which is why I’ve added the fresh ginger. According to my mother, it takes away the gas. I don’t know why, but it works! It tastes good, too.
1 pound lentils
6 cups Vegetable Broth (this page) or water
2 slices of fresh ginger
1 medium onion, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 bunches cilantro, stemmed and chopped
5 lemons
1 bunch basil, stemmed and chopped
Lemon slices, for garnish
Place the lentils in a stockpot. Add the broth, ginger, and onion. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 90 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
Transfer the lentil mixture to a blender or food processor and blend for 30 seconds.
Add the salt, pepper, and cilantro.
Ladle the soup into bowls and squeeze the juice of ½ lemon into each bowl. Garnish with liberal amounts of the basil and a thin slice of lemon.