Moroccan Lentil Soup to start the New Year 2007

This is my first post for the New Year 2007. Thanks to all my readers & fellow bloggers for the support and response shown in year 2006. Hope I will continue to keep you guys posted with more enthusiasm.



Sometime back I had posted the Spanish Lentil Soup and many of my readers liked it. But the recipe used bouillon cube instead of spices. Some of my readers are Vegetarians and its very hard to find a 100% vegetarian bouillon cube. So I did some research on the web and compiled this made from the scratch Moroccan Lentil Soup.
The ingredients are same as the Spanish Lentil Soup except for the spices. My hubby liked the Moroccan Soup more than the Spanish one. But I liked both equally.

1 cup lentils
1 medium onion
3 cloves garlic
1/2 bell pepper
1 tomato
1 carrot
2 tsp oil
pepper
1 tsp lime juice

spices
1 inch ginger
1/2 tsp jeera/cumin powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp pepper flakes or chilli powder
You could also use 1-2 tsp garam masala instead of all the above spices.

Soak lentils in water for 1 hr. I make the soup in a pressure cooker, its faster. You can make it in a sauce pan.
Heat a tsp of oil in a pressure cooker, fry chopped onions & garlic for a minute. There is no need to brown them. Add the spices and fry for another minute. Add bell peppers, carrots, tomato and the lentils. Add water & salt. Cook for 3 whistles.

Serve hot with bread. You may squeeze juice of fresh lime on top. Just like paav bhaji.