#vgetarian

Method Spray a light coat of olive oil into a large saucepan, and put it on a medium-high heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic and saute until soft, about 10-15 minutes. Add the cumin, coriander, chili powder, and curry powder and stir to coat the veggies with the spices. Cook for a few minutes until the spices are aromatic. Add the tomatoes and the stock and bring to a simmer. Season generously with salt and pepper and add the lentils. Simmer for about 30-40 minutes, until lentils and vegetables are very soft. In a few batches, puree the soup in a food processor until completely smooth. Transfer back to pot and season with salt and pepper to taste. If you like it a bit more spicy, you can add a little cayenne pepper and more black pepper. To serve, here are some recommendations. I know it's easy to skip the toppings in a recipe - but the combination of bits and pieces served with this soup elevate it from good to great. I promise it's worth the extra work! Mix some fresh lemon juice with some Greek yoghurt, and splash a dollop on top. Chop up some chives and sprinkle. And the piece de resistance is roasted chickpeas - just a tin of chickpeas, rinsed and dried, rolled in a bit of olive oil and the spices you've already used, and stuck in a really hot over til they're crispy. Boom!