Recipe Talk

This recipe was printed in the Daily Mail about 10 years ago. It has bacon and creme fraiche. It is very easy to prepare.

Low Fat Hot and Spicy Lentil soup

When it's cold outside and you need warming up - nothing beats hot and spicy lentil soup. The real beauty of this though is it's "freezability" - make loads at once and freeze it in individual portions for a low fat lunch or post workout "pick-me-up"
Serves 4

160 calories, less than 3 % saturated fat!
Ingredients:

100g red lentils
1 onion
2 sticks of celery (optional)
2 carrots
1 small can of kidney beans (or any other type of bean)
2 tablespoons of tomato puree
1 pint of water
1heaped teaspoon Swiss Marigold bouillon powder (the reduced salt version is better)
4 cloves garlic (or less if you're not so keen on a pronounced garlic taste. Alternatively you could roast the garlic in the oven first which will reduce the pungency)
1-3 chillies (again, depends on how hot you want this, if you prefer mild then use only the skin from one large chilli and discard the seeds If, however, you prefer a "removing the lining of your mouth" taste, then use up to 3 small Bird's eye chillies - or Scotch bonnets if you really like it hot.)
1 teaspoon Schwartz Thai seven spice powder
1 teaspoon of olive oil
To serve:

Zero fat yogurt
Optional Extras: (both will up the fat content and overall calorie count.)
Crispy bacon
Half fat crème fraiche

How to make:
1) Wash the lentils and then cook in a pan of water for 10 minutes, drain and rinse again
2) Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan and sauté the garlic, onions and chilli until soft.
3) Reduce the heat, and add the celery, carrots, lentils and beans.
4) Add the seven spice powder, bouillon, tomato puree and water and simmer for 3o minutes.
5) Remove from heat and blitz in a liquidiser until thick soup consistency.
6) Serve in bowls with 0% fat yogurt swirled on top.

(If you're opting for the higher fat version - add half fat crème fraiche and crispy bacon pieces to the finished soup.)

Serve with hot crusty bread.