This
recipe has a complicated history, it was originally pinched, for want
of a better culinary word, from a very old Eliza Acton original dating
from the early nineteenth century. Eighth Day Café developed
it up into their usual vast quantities and it has been a favourite
for the last dozen years, each new cook altering it slightly as is
the way of things here. Now of course we've reduced it back down to
a more domestic quantity for our site. We could have just used the
original but no one can remember what it was. In any event it is a
fine example of that most British institution, a thoroughly anglicised
Indian dish.
Ingredients - Serves 4
4oz Red Lentils
1 Small Potato
½lb Carrots
1 Small Turnip or Swede (about 4 ounces)
1 Parsnip
1 Courgette
1 Onion
14oz Tin Chopped Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Tomato Pureé
1 Teaspoon Garam Masala
1 Teaspoon Curry powder
1 Dessert Apple
2 Pints Water
2 dessert spoons Sunflower Oil
Salt & Pepper
Method
- Peel
and dice the onion, heat the oil in a saucepan add the onion and
fry gently with the garam masala and curry powder.
- Whilst
the onion is frying wash the lentils under cold running water,
it is easiest to put them in a sieve.
- As
soon as the onion is soft add the water to the pan put in the
lentils and turn up the heat.
- Wash
the vegetables, peeling any that are not organic, dice into ½
to 1 inch chunks and add to the pan, along with the chopped tomatoes
and the pureé to the pan.
- Once
the soup begins to boil stir and then lower the heat and allow
to simmer.
- Wash,
core and small dice the apple and add to the pan.
- Cover
and simmer for approximately 1 hour, until all the vegetables
are cooked.
- Season
to taste and serve. This soup is a meal in itself for four and
could be a starter for 6.
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