Red Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup red lentils/masoor dal
• 4.5 cups water
• 1 large onion
• 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
• 3 red dry whole chili pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• salt
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• fresh cilantro/coriander leaves and lemon juice to garnish

How to cook:

Peel and divide the onion into half. Chop one half into small pieces. Make thin half moon slices with the other half onion.

Wash the lentils till water runs clear. Combine 4.5 cups of water, salt, turmeric and chopped onions. Cover and simmer till the lentils are fully cooked. Or use a pressure cooker, it is a much quicker way to cook lentils.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the cumin seeds and the red whole dry chili pepper. Once the seeds sizzle and the pepper turns dark brown, add the bay leaf, sliced garlic and the onion half moons. Add the sugar and fry till the onions are brown and crispy. Add the  cooked lentils to the pan, stir to combine and simmer at medium heat for about 7-10 minutes. If the dal/soup gets too thick, feel free to add some warm water, to get the desired consistency.

Serve hot, garnished with fresh coriander and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Serve as soup with crusty bread or as a side with plain rice (the usual norm to serve dal in India).