Vegetarian Lentil Soup Recipe - Recipezazz.com

Ingredients

• 1 pound dry lentils (brown or green lentils, rinsed and picked through)
• 1/2 cup carrots, sliced in thin rounds
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup onions, fine diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small hot pepper, fine diced (I use a small red jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed) Optional
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup frozen cut leaf spinach (you can also use fresh baby spinach as well)
• 1 can (15 ounce) tomatoes (small diced petite tomatoes or 1-1/2 cups fresh diced tomatoes)
• 2 quarts vegetable broth (chicken broth can be used)
• 2 to 3 teaspoon pesto (1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; then, 1 teaspoon fresh basil at the end of cooking can be substituted)
• 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• 3 to 4 sprigs thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cumin
• kosher salt, to taste
• fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon oil (olive oil)
• *Garnish*
• parmesan cheese, grated
• olive oil