My Sunday meal prep all through the winter involves making a big batch of something delicious that the whole family will eat that can be reheated for lunch or dinner throughout the week. My kids recently discovered lentil soup and to my delight can’t seem to get enough. I have adapted several recipes and settled on a creamy, blended red lentil soup with just enough spice to not make it bland and some disguised veggies to give it a little extra flavor and nutrients.  The key here is really the immersion blender, by far one of my most used kitchen gadgets especially in these dreary winter months. Here’s a very rough version of the recipe I have been making recently. Feel free to adapt and get creative, you really can’t mess it up but try starting with this:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 C soaked red lentils (I just soak while I’m prepping other ingredients but could be soaked longer it will decrease cooking time)
• 3-4 garlic cloves chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• 3-4 carrots chopped
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• 1 can light coconut milk
• 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garam masala spice
• Generous amounts of s&p (to taste)

Measure out 1 1/2 – 2 cups of red lentils and soak. Meanwhile, heat 1 -2 tbs in soup pot and sauté onion and garlic. Add carrots and cook a little longer. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste and spices. Add lentils mix together and add coconut milk and broth. Bring to a low boil and then simmer for at least 20-30 min. Let cool slightly and insert immersion blender, blend to desired consistency.

Note: I like to add toppings like toasted sliced almonds or pictured above Trader Joe’s Salad Topper Mix, cilantro and or sour cream are another suggestion. Of course you can never go wrong with a fresh crusty loaf of bread.

Other note: I don’t have a preferred brand for an immersion blender, but if you don’t have one you’re really missing out. I inherited mine from my husband when we moved in together thirteen years ago and it works perfectly. This soup means you only have to wash one pot and can put the dirty part of the immersion blender in the dishwasher and cleanup is done.