Mediterranean Kitchen Lentil Soup

Serves:

Ingredients:

5 c Lentils
3 qt Water
1 1/2 lg Onions, coarsely chopped
1/2 c Vegetable oil, divided
1/2 c Olive oil
1 Green bell pepper, seeded,
-membranes removed, coarsely
-chopped
1 ts Salt or to taste
1/4 ts Coarsely ground black pepper
1 ts Ground allspice
1 ts Cumin
3/4 ts Ground cinnamon
6 Cloves garlic, peeled and
-coarsely chopped
1 c Chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 c Lemon juice

Method:

1.
Bring lentils and water to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer, covered, while preparing the vegetables.
2.
Meanwhile, in small frying pan cook onions in 1/4 cup vegetable oil and the olive oil over medium heat.
3.
When onions start to brown, about 10 minutes, add green pepper and cook together for about 2 minutes.
4.
Add onion-pepper combination and oil in which they were cooked to lentils.
cook lentils about 40 minutes.
Season with salt; pepper, allspice, cumin and cinnamon.
continue to cook, covered, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes.
5.
Blend garlic with 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a blender or with mortar and pestle until pureed and well blended.
6.
When lentils are tender, add cilantro.
Turn off heat.
Then add garlic-oil puree.
Stir well.
7.
After a minute, add lemon juice.
Taste and correct seasonings if necessary.
Serve immediately.