Tom and I watched the Alton Brown episode on Lentils and thought this soup recipe looked good, I made it earlier this week and it was not only good it was spectacular. Make it- it will change your life. Okay not really, but it will spice it up! Don’t skip the coriander it is a crucial ingredient. I only had whole coriander, so I just emptied out my pepper grinder and ground the coriander it worked perfectly.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup finely chopped carrot

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed

1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes

2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground toasted cumin

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately.

Pasted from <http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_35630,00.html>