Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Beets & Delicata Squash

Stressful times call for your favorite recipe to help ease distress. This is mine. I make many versions of this spiced lentil soup and this one did not disappoint. 

I did take half a second to ponder the decision of putting delicata squash into soup. It was aging rapidly though and I knew I had to use it as soon as possible. If it was an epic fail, well, that would be okay I decided.

Delicata squash in soup is absolutely amazing. The roasted meat is tender and sweet, while the peel is just slightly chewy and caramelized. It's a really wonderful addition. The roasted beets in the soup dyed it a deep magenta, the longer it sat. I'm going to be putting delicata in all my soups now!

Produce On Parade - Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Squash & Delicata Squash - This is one of my favorite soups. Based with creamy coconut milk, red lentils mingle with roasted beets and caramelized delicata squash. Spiced with tantalizing aromatics…
“Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. ”
— Cesar Chavez
Produce On Parade - Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Squash & Delicata Squash - This is one of my favorite soups. Based with creamy coconut milk, red lentils mingle with roasted beets and caramelized delicata squash. Spiced with tantalizing aromatics…

You need this soup in your life. Maybe as a dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas? It would be perfect! 

Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Beets & Delicata Squash


Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Beets & Delicata Squash
By

This is one of my favorite soups. Based with creamy coconut milk, red lentils mingle with roasted beets and caramelized delicata squash. Spiced with tantalizing aromatics like cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Notes: Feel free to leave out the beets if you’re anti-beets. Any lentil can be used to the cooking time may need to be increased if not using red lentils.

Ingredients
  • 2 medium whole beets, scrubbed and ends trimmed
  • 1 delicata squash, washed and diced
  • ½ Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 cup dry red lentils
  • 5 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil (I like unrefined)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. ground turmeric
  • 1 tsp. curry powder
  • 1 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • Sprinkle of crushed red pepper
  • Pinch of fresh ground nutmeg
  • 1 15 oz. can of full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 Tbsp. lime juice
  • 2 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 Tbsp. vegan sugar
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Wrap the whole, scrubbed beets loosely in tinfoil. Place on a baking sheet. Toss the diced squash in olive oil and scatter on the same baking sheet. Roast at 400 F for about 30 minutes. Stir the squash at 15 minutes. After 30 minutes, transfer the squash to bowl for later and turn over the beets. Allow the beets to cook for an additional 15-30 minutes, until fork tender. Remove when done and allow to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, bring the lentils and vegetable broth to a boil, stirring occasionally. Make sure to watch it or it could boil over. Reduce to low and simmer for about 15 minutes. Then, remove from heat.
  3. In a medium frying pan, heat the coconut oil over low. Add the onion and garlic and sauté a few minutes. Next, add in the turmeric through and including the nutmeg, stirring well and scraping up the bits on the bottom of the pan. Sauté for about 8 minutes, until the onion begins to brown.
  4. Once lentils are done, add the coconut milk through and including the salt to the lentils and broth. Also, add the squash and the onion mixture. When the beets are cooled, dice and add to the soup. Stir well to combine.
  5. Serve hot, garnished with broccoli sprouts like me (if you wish!)

    6. Prep time:
    Cook time:
    Total time:
    Yield: 6 servings


SAVE MONEY!

I buy my canned coconut milk here.

It’s only $2.20 per can vs $4 per can at my local grocery store Fred Meyer!

Produce On Parade - Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Squash & Delicata Squash - This is one of my favorite soups. Based with creamy coconut milk, red lentils mingle with roasted beets and caramelized delicata squash. Spiced with tantalizing aromatics…
Produce On Parade - Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Squash & Delicata Squash - This is one of my favorite soups. Based with creamy coconut milk, red lentils mingle with roasted beets and caramelized delicata squash. Spiced with tantalizing aromatics…

More Lentil Soup Recipes

Look who's all snuggled up like a bug in a rug! Bob doesn't appreciate the crashing wind. Still not a single flake of snow. I'll keep you updated. I heard on the news, it'll be a new record for southcentral Alaska in November for snowfall...or lack thereof. So depressing, you guys.

Good Deed of The Day

This story is insane. The cast of Walking Dead is apparently so completely grossed out by all the fake bloody flesh, gore, and cannibalism on the show that the entire cast is going vegan and vegetarian! Check out the whole store here. 

Dutch Word of The Day

Insane --> krankzinnig (crank-zin-igh)

Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto

Activism Alert!

Produce On Parade

Tomorrow, October 2nd, I hope you will join me in a fast against animal suffrage. Pigs and cows are often starved before they are sent to slaughter and hopefully this cause will bring some awareness to horrible cruelty inflicted upon the animals who share this planet with us. If you decide to join in, be sure to hashtag #FastAgainstSlaughter

Okay, now onto more merry festivities. Happy World Vegetarian Day! Perhaps you have an elaborate bash tonight to celebrate? This is a wonderful dish for such an occasion. When you're trying to impress your friends with your awesome vegan culinary skills, remember it's equally important to impress yourself as well.

Maybe like me, you plan to be decked out in head to toe L.L.Bean sleepwear for the celebratory-worthy occasion of watching New Girl and The Mindy Project on Hulu. Well, this meal is perfect for that too. I've got you covered, no worries.

On a side note...positively October-appropriate dish right? Black and orange for Halloween! I've never been a huge fan of Halloween, but as of five years ago, it's become a very special day indeed. It's the day Todd and I met!

Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.”
— Albert Schweitzer
Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.

Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress. 

Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.
Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.
Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.

Aren't these purple carrots gorgeous? They came in my CSA box!

Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.
Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.
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Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto
by October-1-2014
Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress. NOTES: Feel free to use green lentils in place of black or beluga. Spinach can be used in place of the carrot greens. Skinny carrots will cook faster and work better in this dish than standard, large yellow carrots.
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup + 3 Tbsp. olive oil (divided)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 5 garlic cloves (divided), minced
  • 3 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 cups beluga lentils, uncooked
  • 2 bushes (about 2 lbs.) of skinny carrots with green tops
  • -- Pesto --
  • ½ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • ¼ cup walnuts
  • heaping ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 Tbsp. liquid amino acids or soy sauce
  • ½ Tbsp. lemon juice
  • ½ cup water
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil over medium-low. Add the onion and 2 garlic cloves and sauté for about 5 minutes, until fragrant. Now, add the stock and lentils and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. Cover and reduce to a simmer for about 35 minutes, or until tender. Be careful not to overcook. Preheat oven to 400 F. Chop off the carrot greens, leaving about 1 inch, and wash very well. Place the greens (discard most of the stems) in a food processer. Wash the carrots and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with a nonstick cooking spray. Lightly brush them with olive oil and sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper. Bake at 400 F for 30-45 minutes, until tender. Add the pesto ingredients into the food processor with the greens, 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and three garlic cloves. Process until smooth and creamy. The pesto should be a little more liquid than regular pesto, so add additional water as needed.Serve the cooked lentils with a few roasted carrots on top and dressed with the pesto.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 6-8
Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.
Produce On Parade - Roasted Carrots & Beluga Lentils with Carrot Greens Pesto - Roasted carrots rest atop beluga lentils, dressed with a fresh, carrot greens pesto. This exquisite dish is done in under an hour and will definitely impress.

Dutch Word of The Day

Happy --> Blij (blay)

Good Deed of The Day

Today, make an effort celebrate yourself. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or just trying to reduce your animal consumption. And be sure to give an animal and planet loving friend a hug, too! Happy World Vegetarian Day!

Roasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli

Whenever I go to the store I always buy a couple heads of broccoli. I never have any idea what I'm going to use it for, which is highly uncharacteristic of me but I like to have it on hand because it encourages me to eat 1/2-2 heads per week and it's nice to throw into soups or other dishes. Sometimes I'll just steam it up and drizzle with a sauce, or top with cashews and nutritional yeast. Yesterday, however, I wanted to make something a little more involved. Now, this broccoli is hardly "involved" but it sure tastes like it is. This is a really quick recipe for dressing up broccoli with roasted garlic and a flavorful sesame sauce.

Produce On Parade - Roasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli

Roast for a quick 20 minutes and you'll have the perfect for side dish or a snack! This is definitely one of my new favorite ways to have broccoli.

To learn more about broccoli and what it can do for you, check out this wealth of information on the little green guys at nutritionfacts.org. It's my go-to place for scientifically based research on nutrition! 

Produce On Parade - Roasted Garlic Sesame BroccoliRoasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli

Serves 2

  • 2 small heads of broccoli, florets only largely chopped 
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 1 Tbsp. liquid amino acids (or soy sauce)
  • 1/2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Chop the broccoli and transfer to a large bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Next, drizzle the sauce over the broccoli and mix well to coat. 

Produce On Parade - Roasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli Produce On Parade - Roasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli

Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes.  Halfway through, stir and rotate.

Serve hot as a side or snack. 

Produce On Parade - Roasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli

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German Word of The Day: Broccoli --> Brokkoli (It's pronounced pretty much the same, I just thought it was cool that it's with two "k" instead of the "c". 

Good Deed of The Day: This is totally disgusting! Help stop the cruel "entertainment" of tigers be electrocuted alive. These so-called "visual feasts" are followed by the tigers being butchered and fed to the attendees. Then the body parts are given as expensive gifts or sold on the black market. Sign the petition. 

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