This soup is good in winter (hot) and in summer (warm). Adding the Feta cheese is up to you, the lemon zest is giving to the overall soup a great taste already. In Italy we eat lentils for NYE, they say it bring you loads of money. Not true. But never give up traditions! This version will shift the eating moment from a traditional need to a pure pleasure.

Serves 4

Ready in 1H

300 grams brown lentils

200 grams Feta cheese

1 small onion

2 spring onions

1 small red bell pepper

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

grated lemon zest

1 tbs of tomato paste

3 tbs white vinegar

1 lt stock (or water + stock cubes at your choice)

3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

Chop roughly the onion and the spring onions. Dice the bell pepper.

Heat the olive oil and stir-fry the onions and the red bell pepper.

Meanwhile wash the lentils under running water for a couple of minutes. Add them to the onion and red bell pepper mixture. Fry for 5/6 minutes high heat stirring.

Add the vinegar and let it evaporate completely (i twill take a couple of minutes).

Add the tomato paste, the stock, the bay leaf and the cinnamon stick. Simmer for 45 minutes (or until the lentils are soft).

Add the grated lemon zest and 50 grams of Feta cheese and let simmer stirring well until the Feta cheese melts down.

Serve hot (or warm), topped with the remaining Feta cheese crumbled and a pinch of fresh lemon zest.

500 gr di lenticchie lessate (250 gr se secche) / 500 gr boiled lentils (or 250 grams dried)

200 gr feta / 200 gr feta cheese

1 piccolo scalogno / 1 small shallot

1 cucchiaio di coriandolo tritato / 1 tbs chopped coriander 

Succo di 1 limone / 1 lemon squeezed

4 cucchiai d’olio d’oliva / 4 tbs olive oil

Pepe / Pepper

Bollire le lenticchie per 25 minuti in acqua non salata. Salare solo dopo circa 20 minuti.

Cook the lentils in hot water for 25 minutes. Add salt only after 20 minutes. 

Quando sono ancora tiepide unire lo scalogno, il pepe, l’olio e il succo di limone. Fare raffreddare.

When still warm, add the shallot, the pepper, the oilve oil and the lemon juice. Let cool down.

Prima di servire, impiattare le lenticchie, e mettere sopra la feta sbriciolata. Spolverare con il coriandolo. Aggiungere un filo d’olio e servire.

Put the lentils in a plate, sprinkle the feta cheese chuncks on top. Sprinkle the coriander. Add a bit of olive oil and serve.