Turmeric Ginger Red Lentil Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to soak red lentils before making soup? ›

Red split lentils are nutty and sweet tasting, and they have a great creamy consistency that makes them perfect for hearty soups and stews. Plus, they cook so fast, and you never have to soak them in advance. That's why, they make a perfect go-to on busy weeknights.

This version is made even better thanks to the addition of turmeric, which is known for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The spice adds both an additional healthy kick to every bite as well as a soft, earthy flavor that just feels like it's warming the body from the inside-out.

“Dal” has a double meaning: It is both the word for lentils and beans and the term for a thick purée or soup made from lentils. Lentil dal is essentially just a lentil soup. However, to say dal is simple also cuts its significance of flavor, of history, and importance at the South Asian table.

One of the benefits of turmeric is its ability to increase the antioxidant capacity of the body. Oxidative damage can lead to aging and a number of other diseases. It involves free radicals, which tend to react with important organic substances like fatty acids, DNA, and protein.

It's best to be safe and rinse and sift through them before cooking, because no one wants to break a tooth by biting down on a rock. Follow this tip: Give the lentils a good rinse in a colander to remove any debris and sift through them to be sure there are no hidden stones tucked among the legumes.

Lentils do not require it but can be soaked in order to reduce cooking time by about half. Before cooking, rinse lentils in cold water, pick over to remove debris or shrivelled lentils, then drain.

Turmeric tastes best when coupled with strong, warming spices, so pumpkin pie spice - which is made with ginger, cinnamon, cloves and allspice - fits the bill perfectly.

People who should not take turmeric include those with gallbladder problems, bleeding disorders, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), infertility, iron deficiency, liver disease, hormone-sensitive conditions, and arrhythmia. Pregnant women and those who are going to undergo surgery should not use turmeric.

Although turmeric can be used by itself, the best thought is always to use it as a background to other flavours: if you find you have added too much and created unwanted bitterness, counteract this with lime or lemon juice rather than with any sweetness.

Since lentils have more fiber, lentils win this round. Lentils contain more protein than Chickpeas. Both chickpeas and lentils are great sources of vegetable protein. However, since lentils have more of this healthy nutrient, lentils win this round.

What ethnicity is lentil soup? ›

Lentil soup goes back to Genesis, with it possibly being the dish Jacob served Esau for his birthright and would have been eaten all over the Alexandrian empire, Middle East, and beyond.

This nutritious, well-balanced soup counts as a meal if you enjoy a generous portion. Lentils are rich in protein, fiber, iron and folate. Lentil soup packs well for lunch in a leak-proof container, and it tastes even better the next day.

Gallbladder problems: Turmeric can make gallbladder problems worse. Do not use turmeric if you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction. Bleeding problems: Taking turmeric might slow blood clotting. This might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

They're a part of the same plant family Zingiberaceae and share origins of being used in traditional medicine in India and China for centuries. Taking ginger and turmeric together may reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of inflammation-related illnesses such as arthritis, digestive diseases, and even diabetes.

The prospect of combining ginger and turmeric may seem like a match made in heaven, promising a mixture of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant goodness. Indeed, preliminary studies published in Molecules suggest that the duo may synergise to combat inflammation more effectively than when used alone.

Well, as healthy as they are, lentils are also known to cause some tummy issues like bloating and flatulence to be more specific. The presence of anti-nutrient compounds in lentils is the culprit behind gas or flatulence. The good news is that anti-nutrient in lentils can be easily deactivated by soaking them in water.

In a large bowl, rinse and soak your red lentils for around 4 hours or overnight. Be sure to cover the lentils with enough water as they are going to soak up quite a bit. Once soaked, drain and rinse thoroughly.

Do you cook lentils before adding to soup? Nope! Dried lentils cook in 35 minutes in the soup, and there's no need to soak them either!

Lentils are tiny, so they don't need to soak at all to cook in a reasonable amount of time; unsoaked lentils will cook in 15 to 30 minutes depending on the type. But if you want to soak them to potentially ease digestion, aim for a minimum of two hours and a maximum of 12. (Two to four hours is a good starting point.)