This soup is simple to make and simply delicious. It has been a staple in my home for 30 years and has sustained me through many of life’s ups and downs.
Ingredients
1 tbsp butter, ghee or oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
I chopped red chilli (optional)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 large carrots, chopped
2 zucchini, chopped
1/2 butternut pumpkin, chopped
2 sticks of celery, chopped
1 1/2 tsp curry powder (more if you like it spicy)
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 cups red lentils
6 cups boiling water
3 chicken or vegetable stock cubes
1 cup coconut cream
coriander, to taste
Directions
Place butter, ghee or oil in a pot over medium heat.
Add the chopped vegetables and cook for 5 minutes until they are soft and golden, stirring regularly.
Add garlic, ginger and spices and stir to coat the vegetables. Once the spices smell beautifully aromatic, add the rinsed lentils and stir to coat in the spice mixture.
Add boiling water and stock cubes and gently simmer on low heat for approximately 20 minutes.
Stir regularly to ensure lentils don’t stick to the bottom of pot. Also keep and eye on how thick the soup is getting. You want a nice thick soup but you want to make sure that all of the liquid doesn’t evaporate. If it starts to get too thick, add a little more water and stir.
Soup is ready when lentils and vegetables are soft and delicious.
Remove pot from heat and add coriander and coconut cream, stirring through.
Serve with extra coriander to taste.
Lentils are an amazing food for newborn mothers. They are made up of over 25% protein, which makes them an excellent alternative to meat for those on a plant based diet. They’re also a great source of iron, which many postpartum people need to replenish. They are also high in fibre, which supports regular bowel movements and the growth of healthy gut bacteria.
Fresh ginger is supportive of lactation and is shown to be helpful in easing colic in newborns. It contains zingibain, a digestive enzyme that is supportive of a baby’s immature gut.
The medicinal qualities of turmeric are increasingly well known. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties as well as being rich in immune-boosting magnesium. It acts as a gentle uterotonic which helps get the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size. It has mood-boosting qualities including balancing hormones and dopamine. It has a short lifespan in the body so it’s better to add it in small amounts throughout the day.
