Zuppa di Lenticchie

Ingredients

• Olive oil -- 3 tablespoons
• Onion, chopped -- 1
• Carrot, peeled and chopped -- 1
• Celery, chopped -- 2 stalks
• Garlic, minced -- 2 to 3 cloves
• Tomatoes. chopped -- 2 cups
• Stock or water -- 8 cups
• Lentils -- 2 cups
• Parsley, chopped -- 1/4 cup
• Rosemary -- 1 sprig
• Bay leaf -- 1
• Salt and pepper -- to taste

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high flame. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic and saute until the onion is transculent, 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 3 to 4 minutes. Then add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce flame to medium-low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through but not falling apart.
3. Adjust seasoning and serve with crusty bread.

Variations

• Add pasta, pearled barley or rice when you add the lentils. This makes a thicker soup, and you make have to add more liquid..
• For a meaty meal, add chunks of chicken, pork, or sausages to your simmering soup.
• German Linsensuppe: Saute some chopped bacon and use the bacon fat instead of olive oil. Eliminate the garlic and tomatoes. Add sliced frankfurters and chunks of potato.
• Greek Fakes: Add some oregano. When you serve the soup, drizzle it with some olive oil and red wine vinegar.
• Spanish Sopa de Lentejas: Use red lentils and add a tablespoon of good paprika to the onions, carrots and celery as you saute them. Brown some Spanish chorizo and add it to the soup.
• Turkish Mercimek Çorbasi: Use 1 1/2 cups of red lentils and 1/2 cup of bulgur wheat. Eliminate the rosemary, and add a tablespoon of paprika and 2 teaspoons of cumin to the onions, carrots and celery as you saute them. Garnish with mint and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.