Lentil Soup with Plantain Chips

Ingredients

• For the Lentil Soup:
• 1 cup dry lentils, rinsed 🥣
• 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
• 0.5 small onion, diced 🧅
• 0.5 red bell pepper, diced 🌶️
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
• 0.5 cup carrots, diced 🥕
• 1 tbsp recaito (cilantro, culantro, garlic, and peppers blended) 🌿
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 0.5 tsp oregano
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth 🍲
• 1 small potato, diced 🥔
• 0.5 cup tomato sauce 🍅
• 1 bay leaf 🌿
• 0.5 tsp salt (adjust to taste) 🧂
• 0.5 cup fresh spinach or kale (optional) 🥬
• For the Plantain Chips:
• 1 ripe plantain, thinly sliced 🍌
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil (for frying) 🛢️
• 0.5 tsp salt 🧂
• 0.5 tsp garlic powder 🧄

Instructions

1. 11️⃣ Sauté the Aromatics
2. 2In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onions, bell pepper, garlic, and carrots until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in recaito, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes. 🧄🌿🔥
3. 32️⃣ Simmer the Soup
4. 4Add lentils, broth, potatoes, tomato sauce, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils and potatoes are tender. 🍲⏳
5. 53️⃣ Add Final Touches
6. 6Remove the bay leaf and stir in spinach or kale (if using). Adjust seasoning with salt. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes. 🥬🔥
7. 74️⃣ Make the Plantain Chips
8. 8Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the plantain slices until golden and crispy, about 1-2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. 🍌🛢️✨
9. 95️⃣ Serve & Enjoy
10. 10Ladle the lentil soup into bowls, top with crispy plantain chips, and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve warm and enjoy! 🍲🍌🌿