Lentil Soup: A Simple and Healthy Mauritian Recipe

It is very common for Mauritians to have a side of “grains secs” or pulses as part of a typical meal, for example, lentils and split peas, prepared as a soup. They are a great source of protein, especially for those on a vegetarian or vegan diet, and are very healthy and easy to prepare. Here is a very simple Mauritian recipe that you can try at home:

What you’ll need:

2 cloves of garlic, chopped
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
1 medium sized onion, chopped
1 small tomato, chopped
200g black lentils
1 carrot (optional), cut or grated however you like
1 pinch of cumin seeds
Salt to taste
1 tsp oil

What to do:

Wash your black lentils with cold water.
In a pressure, add some oil and heat over medium heat.
Add a pinch or two of cumin seeds to the hot oil, then the garlic, tomatoes, onions and thyme. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add the black lentils and enough water to just cover the lentils. Mix.
Add the carrots and top with more water. Cover the pressure cooker and cook for 30 minutes.
Serve and enjoy with some bread or as a side.

Variations:

You can add some chilies if you like it hot and spicy, or use some curry leaves to add some more flavour.

Enjoy!