Very good filling great taste and healthy. However I found the length of the cooking times to be absurd and unnecessarily long. The first cooking time (for the broth) I cut back to 30 min; also I used all the broth and only added a little extra water. I cooked the lentils for about 30 minutes until tender but not mushy the way I like them and I did not simmer it a full 15 minutes after adding the remaning ingredients. I think this would also be very good with spinach or any other green in place of the chard.
I highly recommend the dark greens are so tasty in this soup unfortunetly the lemon really over powered the flavors because of this the soup tasted better the next night. I'll make again with half the lemon suggested.
I loved this soup! I was skeptical about the quantity of broth and water called for but after all of that simmering you end up with the right amount. I made this vegetarian by using veg broth instead of chicken. I went a littler heavier on the thyme sprigs and used a little less than 1/2 cup of lemon juice. I suggest adding 1/4 cup at first tasting it and then adding lemon as needed. The soup has a lot of depth when it comes to flavor and the lemon and thyme have your taste buds craving more. I highly recommend this wonderful hearty soup!
YO!! The wife hated it but I was feel'n this one. BIG UP. I made some garlic cheesy bread to go with yo perfect match....not enough good things I can say abouts it!!
I like this!! I agree with a previous comment about shortening the cooking time. I would only cook the lentils about 20-25 minutes and simply because I absolutely adore lemon I think I will add more than 1/2 cup next time. I would also add the TIP to those not familiar with chard that like spinach it is important to wash sufficiently to get the dirt off the leaves. I am sure I will make this again.
I didn't realize this required pre-seasoning chicken stock so instead I created a bouquet garni with the herbs and used straight chicken stock in lieu of the water. I loved the lemony flavor and enjoyed the addition of swiss chard. Like many I shortened the cooking time for the stock and for the lentils.
It's so healthy that is the biggest benefit. The directions were a bog lenthy...Just boil the broth and put in lentils and later on at greens.You could use any green like mustard or kale too. Immidiately I wanted to eat it all but by the next day I was sick of it!
This was good and intresting....My two year old was not a fan of it but my husband loves it.....
The best part of this recipe was adding my own home grown Swiss chard parsley and lemons! A nice trick is to blend (in a blender ) about 1/4 of the lentil soup part (before adding the chard.) Add blended part back to soup before adding chard. This makes it a bit thicker. To the soup mixture step-while sauteeing the onion and garlic ADD a teaspoon of garlic. YUM! Great recipe.
Living in Italy it is hard to find all the seasonings this soup required (!) so I replaced the parsley and thyme with sage and added a sprig of rosemary while simmering the broth. Everyone I served it to really loved it but I found the salt from the prepared chicken stock to be overwhelming. I think it would be good with feta cheese sprinkled on top.
