Mandy’s Easy Carrot, Tomato and Lentil Soup

This soup is a cheap and nutritious meal to make for the whole family.  Mandy made this soup at a healthy snacks for kids workshop at the Loughborough Farm Cafe. It proved very popular with children asking for a second bowl. 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, peeled and chopped into small pieces
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into small pieces
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 200g dried red lentils
• 1 litre of hot vegetable stock or hot water
• Salt and pepper, optional
• Handful fresh parsley, chopped, optional

Instructions

1. Heat up the oil in a large saucepan on a medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onions and carrot to the pan.
3. Stir well and reduce the heat to low.
4. Cook for 10-15 minutes until soft. Stir often.
5. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
6. Add the ground cumin, stir and cook for one minute.
7. Add the chopped tomatoes, the lentils and the vegetable stock.
8. Turn the heat up to high and bring to the boil then reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan with a lid.
9. Cook for 20 minutes or until the lentils are soft.
10. Stir every few minutes.
11. Season with salt and pepper to taste (optional).
12. Sprinkle over chopped parsley before serving (optional).