The Food Pig

Chicken Lentil Soup
There is nothing better that a hot bowl of chicken soup on a cold and dreary spring day. I try to make a hearty soup at least every week and this week is no different. The chicken is frozen cubed breast meat from Wild Fork Foods. As you might surmise from the picture to the right, there is a predominance of vegetables relative to chicken. This is a hearty soup which is a perfect addition to or as a main dish for any meal.

Ingredients

1 tbsp canola oil(a)
1.25 lbs chicken cubes(b)
2 cubes crushed garlic(c)
1 medium diced red onion
4 celery stalks
6 carrots
1 large can chicken stock
1 cup water
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup split red lentils(d)
1/2 tbsp paprika(e)
1/2 tbsp herbs de Provence
1 tsp thyme
TT salt
TT pepper

Preparation

To start, add the canola oil to a 4 quart soup pot on medium heat. Add chicken cubes and brown on all sides. Add garlic and onion and cook for about 3 minutes to soften. Add the remainder of the ingredients and simmer until all vegetables are soft. Continue to simmer for another hour to reduce slightly and enhance the flavor(f).

Notes

(a) Olive oil can be substituted for canola oil.
(b) Frozen chicken breast cubes from Wild Fork Foods. The size of the cubes vary in size but can/should be used as is to avoid extra work.
(c) Frozen crushed garlic cubes from Wild Fork Foods. Always a good addition to any dish.
(d) Any lentil can be used, that is, red, green, black, etc. Split lentils cook faster than whole lentils. Lentils are plant protein superstars! Lentils are high in protein, fibre, and complex carbohydrates, while being low in fat and calories. They are also sources of other key minerals and nutrients including potassium, folate, iron, and manganese.
(e) I used smoked Hungarian paprika but any type is good. Add more for extra flavor.
(f) The simmering time depends on how long it takes for the carrots and celery to soften.
(more) The carrots and celery can be roughly cut into 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch lengths. No need to be exact. This soup is delicious when reheated the next day or day after.