Spicy Sesame Carrot Soup with Red Lentils

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 teaspoon ground chillies or chili flakes (I used Diaspora Co.’s ground Kashmiri chillies)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2- inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced

1 ½ lbs carrots, scrubbed and chopped

sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste

½ cup split red lentils, rinsed

5 cups vegetable stock

¼ cup tahini

1½ teaspoons toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon Tamari soy sauce

2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice

Instructions

Set a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the cumin and coriander seeds to the pot and toast, stirring them up often. Toast the spices until very fragrant, about 45 seconds to a full minute. Dump the seeds out onto a small plate and allow them to cool completely before grinding up to a powder in a spice grinder. Set the ground spices aside.

Return the large soup pot to the stove over medium heat and pour in the olive oil. Swirl the oil around a bit and then add the onions to the pot and stir. The onions should be sizzling, but on the quieter end of sizzling. Lower the heat if necessary. Keep cooking the onions, stirring occasionally, until very soft and translucent (but not browning), about 7-8 minutes.

Add the ground cumin and coriander to the pot, along with the ground chillies as well. Stir and cook along with the onions for one full minute. Then, add the minced garlic and ginger to the pot and stir. Keep cooking until the garlic is very fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the carrots to the pot along with big pinches of salt and pepper. Stir the carrots to coat them in the spices and sautéed onions. Then, add the red lentils to the pot and stir once more. Finally, pour in the vegetable stock and give it a final stir.

Bring this broth-y carrot, lentil, and spice mixture to a boil and then lower your heat to a simmer. Simmer this mixture uncovered, stirring here and there, until the carrots are quite soft, about 30 minutes.

Carefully ladle the broth-y carrot, lentil, and spice mixture into the pitcher of an upright, vented blender. To this mixture, add the tahini, sesame oil, and Tamari. Close the lid on the pitcher and slowly bring the speed of the blender up to high. You may have to add a few splashes of water to get things moving. Blend until you have a completely smooth puree.

Pour the spicy sesame carrot soup back into the pot. At this point, you can leave it as-is or add some water to make the texture a bit more fluid. I personally like a bit of fluidity in pureed soups, so I added 2 cups of water at this point. Bring the soup up to a boil, stirring often. Stir in the lemon or lime juice.

Give the soup a taste at this point to see if you need to adjust some of the seasoning. Maybe it needs even more lemon/lime for your taste, some extra pepper etc. Adjust the seasoning to your liking and then serve! I topped mine with chopped cilantro, drizzles of tahini and chili oil, and sesame seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What type of chillies or chili flakes are recommended for this soup?

Ground Kashmiri chillies are recommended, but you can use your preferred ground chillies or chili flakes.

Can I substitute ground cumin and coriander for whole seeds?

Yes, you can use pre-ground cumin and coriander if you don’t have the whole seeds.

Adjust the quantity if needed.

Is it necessary to toast the spices before grinding them?

Toasting enhances the flavor, but you can skip this step if needed.

However, toasting adds depth to the soup.

Can I use green or brown lentils instead of red lentils?

Red lentils cook faster and break down more, providing a smoother texture.

You can use other lentils, but cooking times may vary.

What can I substitute for tahini if I don’t have it?

Almond or peanut butter can be used as tahini substitutes, although the flavor will be different.

Is Tamari soy sauce necessary, or can I use regular soy sauce?

You can use regular soy sauce if Tamari is unavailable.

Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.

Can I use a hand blender instead of an upright blender?

Yes, a hand blender can be used directly in the pot to puree the soup until smooth.

Is there a recommended garnish for this soup?

The soup can be garnished with chopped cilantro, drizzles of tahini, chili oil, and sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.

Can I make the soup ahead of time?

Yes, the soup can be made ahead and reheated.

Adjust the consistency with water when reheating if needed.

Is the spice level adjustable?

Yes, you can adjust the spice level by increasing or decreasing the amount of ground chillies according to your preference.