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Roasted Butternut & Red Lentil Soup

This bright winter soup is warming, satisfying and full of flavour. It’s meat free, a fabulous source of protein and a great boost for your immune system in the duller winter months. It’s an absolute family favourite of ours so we hope you’ll enjoy it too.

Vegetarian  / Gluten free

Serves 4

Prep time 15

Cook time 45

Ingredients

  • 1 large butternut squash, diced, skin left on
  • 4 garlic cloves, left whole, with papery skin removed
  • olive oil, for cooking
  • 1½ tsp dried mixed herbs
  • ½ large red onion, finely chopped
  • 250g red lentils
  • 1 litre vegetable stock
  • 3-4 tsp green pesto, (optional)
  • sea salt
  • black pepper

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the diced butternut squash and garlic in a roasting tin, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper and the dried herbs. Mix well and roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the squash is browning at the edges and the skin is crisp. The garlic will have turned a goldenish colour, too.
  2. Heat a little olive oil in a pan, add the onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, or until softened.
  3. Add the roasted squash, garlic and lentils. Add enough vegetable stock to cover and simmer until the lentils are cooked.
  4. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer in batches to a jug blender and process to a soup. Add a little more stock if the soup is too thick.
  5. Transfer to serving bowls and drizzle with a swirl of pesto in each bowl, if using.

Enjoy!

This recipe was reproduced with kind permission from Dan Pinnock, The Medicinal Chef www.cooked.com/uk/Dale-Pinnock