Lentil Veggie Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup diced celery, include the leaves
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup diced carrot
• 6 cups chicken broth, can use veg broth
• 1 1/2 cups dried lentils, rinsed
• 1/2 cup dried yellow split peas, rinsed
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 cup vegetable juice, such as v-8
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
• salt, to taste

Recipe

• 1 in a large soup pot, heat oil.
• 2 saute the onions, celery and garlic until starting to soften.
• 3 add carrots and broth to the pot.
• 4 add the rinsed lentils, split peas, black pepper, thyme and salt to the pot.
• 5 bring to a boil. reduce heat.
• 6 cover pot and simmer for 1 hour.
• 7 ***if desired, use an immersion blender and quickly "whiz" for just a second or two. this gives it a thicker, creamier texture.
• 8 add the tomatoes, vegetable juice, sugar and cider vinegar.
• 9 simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 10 at this time, taste and season with more salt, if necessary.