Description
Hearty chestnut and lentil soup brings warmth from French countryside kitchens, blending nutty chestnuts with earthy lentils. Rich, comforting flavors invite you to savor each spoonful of this nourishing winter classic.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 225 grams red lentils
- 225 grams cooked chestnuts
- 1.5 liters (6 cups) vegetable stock
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion
- 1/2 leek
- 1 carrot
- 1 stick celery
Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Double cream, to serve
Instructions
- Prepare aromatic vegetables by meticulously dicing onion, leek, carrot, and celery into uniform small pieces.
- Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then gently sauté chopped vegetables until they become translucent and tender, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Introduce dried lentils into the vegetable mixture, stirring to coat with oil and release their earthy fragrance.
- Pour vegetable stock into the pot, ensuring ingredients are fully submerged, and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer.
- Cover the pot and allow the soup to cook at low heat for 35-45 minutes, periodically checking lentils for desired softness.
- Fold roasted chestnuts into the simmering soup, continuing to cook for an additional 15-20 minutes to meld flavors.
- Transfer the soup to a blender and purée until completely smooth and velvety, adjusting consistency with extra stock if needed.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper, ensuring balanced flavor profile.
- Ladle the hot soup into serving bowls and garnish with a delicate swirl of cream for a luxurious finish.
Notes
- Enhance the soup’s richness by roasting vegetables before adding to the pot, which deepens the flavor profile and caramelizes natural sugars.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure stock is certified gluten-free and skip any dairy cream, replacing with coconut cream or dairy-free alternative.
- Optimize texture by using fresh chestnuts if possible, as they provide a more nuanced and authentic taste compared to pre-packaged versions.
- Boost protein content by adding a handful of toasted pumpkin seeds or almonds as a garnish, which introduces extra crunch and nutritional value.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg