Chef, cookery tutor and owner of Pop food business in Edinburgh, Steve Brown, shares his Halloween themed risotto recipe.
Budget buster lentil soup
Budget buster lentil soup
This classic lentil soup is a treat for vegetarians as well as meat eaters, and can be further enhanced with lots of different vegetables.
Better still, it comes in at just 20 pence a serving – a fraction of what you’d pay for the posh supermarket equivalent. The soup is also suitable for vegans, as long as the stock used contains no animal products.
Nutrient per serving: Calories (kJ) 578; Calories (kcal) 137; Protein 8.9; Fat 1.2; of which saturated fat 0.1; Carbohydrate 21.0; Of which sugar 3.0; Fibre 3.0; Sodium 1.5
Better still, it comes in at just 20 pence a serving – a fraction of what you’d pay for the posh supermarket equivalent. The soup is also suitable for vegans, as long as the stock used contains no animal products.
Nutrient per serving: Calories (kJ) 578; Calories (kcal) 137; Protein 8.9; Fat 1.2; of which saturated fat 0.1; Carbohydrate 21.0; Of which sugar 3.0; Fibre 3.0; Sodium 1.5
By Love Food Hate Waste
Serves 6
Prep/Cook time: 45-60 minutes
Ingredients
200g red lentils
1 carrot
No need to peel, just give it a good wash!
1 onion
Use up what you have. Spring onions, leeks or shallots work well too.
1¼ litres vegetable stock
Juice of half a lemon
Salt, pepper, cumin powder and chilli powder, to taste
For extra flavour, garnish with finely chopped spring onions or chives
Perfect portions
Use our portion calculator for a quick and simple way to check how much food to serve with this meal.
Use portion calculatorRecipe
Peel and finely chop the onion and carrot. Put into a large saucepan with the stock and lentils. Simmer, covered, for 25 minutes until the lentils are disintegrating. Allow to cool, then liquidise.
Reheat to serve and adjust seasoning with lemon juice, salt, pepper, ground cumin and ground chilli.
Freezer tip: It’s worth making double quantities and freezing this soup in portions. Don’t miss out the lemon, it makes all the difference.
Variations: Other vegetables could be chopped up and cooked with the lentils, but don’t include potatoes as they will tend to make the consistency gluey.
Remember to freeze any portions you don’t eat this time to save them from going in the bin. A great time saver for a simple meal another day when you may be busy.
Defrost your frozen portions in the fridge and use within 24 hours, or in a microwave on 'defrost' directly before use.
Make the most of your leftovers
Store in
Airtight container
Time
Fridge for 2 days, freezer 3 months
Where to store
Fridge or freezer
Reheat
Defrost in fridge. Reheat in microwave or on the hob.
Perfect portions
Use our portion calculator for a quick and simple way to check how much food to serve with this meal.
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Keep your fridge at 5°C or below
Did you know that adjusting the temperature of your fridge could help to preserve your food for three days longer than usual? A big win to help keep your food fresher for longer. Our fridge temperature tool can help you learn how to change the temperature on your specific fridge brand.