Lentil and Spinach Soup with Roasted Red Pepper and Pomegranate Molasses |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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Spinach, plus garnishes of roasted red pepper and pomegranate molasses, enrich this satisfying Mediterranean soup with antioxidants, including beta-carotene, anthocyanins, and lutein/zeaxanthin. Ingredients:
6 cups water |
1 1/2 cups dried lentils |
2 garlic cloves, chopped |
1 bay leaf |
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick |
4 cups diced japanese eggplant (about 2) |
1 cup chopped onion |
1 thyme sprig |
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil |
4 cups less-sodium beef broth, divided |
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley |
1 (6-ounce) package baby spinach |
1 teaspoon salt |
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper |
8 teaspoons pomegranate molasses |
1/2 cup thinly sliced bottled roasted red bell pepper |
Directions:
1. Place first 5 ingredients in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Set lentils aside.
2. Preheat oven to 450°.
3. Place the eggplant, onion, and thyme in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Drizzle with oil; toss to coat. Bake at 450° for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Stir in 1 cup broth; bake 10 minutes. Discard thyme; add eggplant mixture to lentils.
4. Stir in remaining 3 cups broth and parsley; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add spinach; stir gently until spinach wilts. Stir in salt and pepper. Ladle about 1 cup soup into each of 8 bowls; drizzle each serving with 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses, and top with about 1 tablespoon roasted red bell pepper.
5. Wine Note: One wine works well with the earthy, bitter, and sweet flavors in this soup: pinot noir. Good pinot noir demonstrates an earthiness of its own, plus an attractive bitterness and a sweet spot of cherry-pomegranate fruitiness. Try Pedroncelli F. Johnson Vineyard 2003 from Sonoma County, California ($15). -Karen MacNeil
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