Recipe By :
Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Soups Vegetables
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 lb Chestnuts
Light oil
1 c French green lentils
- OR Brown Lentils
2 qt Water
1 md Carrot
- diced into
- small, even squares
1 Celery stalk
- cut into small squares
1/2 sm Onion -- finely diced
1 lg Garlic clove
- peeled and finely chopped
1 Bay leaf
1/2 ts Salt -- or to taste
5 Parsley sprigs
-----FINISHING THE SOUP-----
3 tb Light olive oil
-Chestnuts (from above)
1 1/2 ts Chopped fresh marjoram -OR-
1/2 ts -Dried Marjoram
1/4 ts Fennel seeds, crushed
- (or ground)
Fresh thyme sprigs -- OR
1 pn -(generous) dried Thyme
1/2 c Dry white wine
1 tb Tomato paste
-Lentils (from above)
Water, stock or cream
-(as needed)
Salt
Freshly milled black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
Finely chopped parsley
Small croutons, fried
-(in butter or oil)
-(optional)
PREHEAT OVEN TO 350F. Score chestnuts on their rounded
sides and toss them in just enough oil to lightly coat
them. Place chestnuts on baking sheet. Bake until
skins have opened and meat is tender, about 20
minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel and dice
them into small pieces. Set aside. Rinse lentils and
combine them in soup pot with the water. Bring to
boil. Cook a few minutes at gentle boil, removing foam
that forms on surface. Add carrot, celery, onion,
garlic, bay leaf, salt and parsley. Lower heat and
simmer until lentils are tender, about 35 minutes.
When done, remove parsley sprigs and bay leaf. Correct
seasoning and add salt, if necessary. Puree half the
lentils until smooth, then recombine them with the
rest. FINISHING THE SOUP: In pan large enough to hold
soup, warm olive oil, then add roasted chestnuts and
herbs. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for
several minutes. Add wine and tomato paste. Stir to
dissolve tomato paste and cook a few minutes to reduce
wine. Stir in lentil mixture and simmer gently 20
minutes. If soup is too thick, thin it with a little
water, stock or cream until of right consistency.
Taste for salt and season with pepper. Serve with
spoonful of olive oil swirled into each bowl. Sprinkle
with parsley and croutons, if desired. ---
