INDIAN LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, 2 boxes of chicken stock and turmeric in a heavy pot and bring to a boil. Cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar, turn heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
• While soup simmers, peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. When soup has cooked for 30 minutes, add cut potato. Cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar again, and continue simmering for another 30 minutes.
• During the second simmering period, put the garlic and ginger into an electric blender. Add 4 1/2 T water and blend until you have a smooth paste. (I used a food processor for this step. You don't need it to be a paste but it should be finely chopped.).
• Once the soup base has finished cooking it needs to be pureed. Blender 3 batches. (I left one batch unblended to give the soup more texture.) Put pureed soup in a large bowl and set aside. Rinse and wipe out your soup pot.
• Place cooked and cubed chicken in a separate bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to mix. Next, pour oil into soup pot and set over medium heat. When oil is hot, put in the garlic/ginger paste, cumin, coriander and cayenne. Fry, stirring continuously, until the spice mixture is slightly browned and separates from the oil. Put in chicken pieces and fry for 1-2 minutes. Add 14 1/2 oz. chicken stock and bring to boil. Cover and turn heat to low; simmer for 5 minutes.
• Pour in pureed soup and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and serve.