Pond Scum Halloween Soup Recipe
How about a bubbling cauldron of witches' brew stew for Halloween dinner? With black lentils and green spinach leaves, this nutrient-packed and surprisingly delicious Halloween soup looks like something straight out of a Halloween horror movie!
Servings 4 servings
Calories 327kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups chopped onion 1 very large onion
- 1 1/4 cups chopped celery 3 large stalks
- 5 large cloves garlic crushed
- 6 cups vegetable stock
- 1 cup dried black lentils
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 cups baby spinach leaves coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a 4 or 5-quart pot over medium heat. Add the onion and celery, and cook until starting to soften but not brown, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly.
- Add the vegetable stock, lentils, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Bring up to a boil, and then cover the pot, turn the heat down to simmer, and cook until the lentils are tender, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the spinach, parsley, chives, and thyme, and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice.
- Serve garnished with more fresh herbs.
Video
Notes
- Storage and Freezing: Once this soup is cooled, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Cooking Time: The cooking time for lentils can vary quite a bit depending on a few different factors, such as how old the lentils are, the weather, lentil size, etc. I like to start checking to see if they're tender around the 15-minute mark. If you overcook lentils they'll still taste fine, but they will lose their shape, turn mushy, and thicken the soup for a thick, creamy consistency instead of a brothy texture.
- Spice it Up: For more complex flavor, add 1 teaspoon ground cumin and/or coriander. And if you like spicy heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes on top when serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 2347mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4925IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 6mg