31 Days of Home Cooked Meals - Wednesday, October 10th

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Greek Lentil Soup with fresh bread

Greek Lentil Soup Recipe

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
6 medium carrots, sliced into rounds
1 1/4 cups brown or green lentils, rinsed and sorted
1 cup tomato sauce
3/4 cup chicken stock or water
1 bay leaf
1 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup Greek yogurt

Heat olive oil in skilled on medium heat. Add onion, garlice, and carrots. Sautee until onion and garlic are soft. Add seasonings - crumbled bay leaft, cumin, paprika, cayenne, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to mix well.

Transfer contents to a dutch oven or large saucepan. Add lentils, tomato sauce, and stock (or water). Bring to a boil and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat and cover. Let cook at a simmer for about 45 minutes, taking care not to overcook or the lentils will become mushy.

To serve, ladle into bowls and top with some Greek yogurt.



Bread Recipe

2 cups warm water (about 110F)
2 Tbsp raw honey
4 tsp yeast
4 Tbsp olive oil
6 cups flour (I usually use whole wheat, but it works equally well with white)
2 tsp salt

Add honey to warm water. Mix well. Add yeast to the water mixture. Mix well. Allow to "rest". When you see it bubbling, it's ready. In mixer bowl combine salt and 1/2 of the flour (3 cups). Pour the water mixture and olive oil into the mixture bowl with the flour. Using a dough hook, mix together. Continue to mix in the rest of the flour, just a bit at a time. When all of the flour is combined, then knead the dough using the dough hook for 8 minutes. You might need to add a bit more flour as it kneads. You don't want a sticky dough.

Place kneaded dough in a bowl and cover with a clean towel. Place in a warm part of your kitchen away from drafts. Allow to rise about 30 minutes. Once risen you can shape it into two loaves. I like to use my french bread pans and form loaves that are sort of shaped like an Italian bread or French bread. Let rise another 20 minutes or so. Then bake in a preheated 400F oven for about 20 minutes. Take care not to let it over-brown.