In the JNF kitchen: Lentil soup

The recipe of the week, a hearty lentil soup, is the quintessential winter dish with a Mediterranean twist, sure to warm your home and your body. It's brought to us by Hagit Lidror, one of the people making Western Galilee a foodie and wine-enthusiast paradise. The region is a key development area of JNF's Go North initiative. 

Hagit's creations, healthy and focused on quality ingredients, are representative of Israeli cuisine in its freshness and simplicity. Hagit teaches Cooking Workshops based on healthy vegetarian cuisine at her home facing the magical Clil landscape overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

More on Go North:
Off the beaten path in the Western Galilee, Israel's Napa Valley, in photos
In the JNF Kitchen: Hagit's delectable basic-chocolate recipe

Enjoy this #RecipeOfTheWeek, and if you make any of these recipes, be sure to send a photo of your creation to teddyherzl18@gmail.com or tweet it to @JNFUSA with the hashtag #JNFfoodie. We might share it! 

Ingredients

1/2 cup black lentils
1/2 cup green lentils
1/2 cup red lentils
Large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-4 potatoes, cubed
2-3 carrots, sweet potatoes or tomatoes- any combination you like, cubed and chopped
2-5 garlic cloves, chopped 
3-5 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
 pinch of cinnamon
1 bay leaf
Optional pinch of hot pepper
1 teaspoon chopped fresh turmeric root if available, or powder if not
1/2 bunch chopped cilantro
Salt to taste 
Rice, couscous, lemon tehini to serve

Directions
Soak the black and green lentils for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight.
Rinse and drain lentils and add to them the red lentils.
In a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil and saute the onion.
Once onion turns translucent, 3-5 minutes, add the potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.
Add the lentils, along with garlic and celery.
Add all the spices.
Fill the pot with enough water to cover all the contents x2. Lentils absorb a lot of water!
Add the cilantro.
Bring to a boil, lower the flame and cook on low for 45 minutes.
Add salt to taste.
Serve with fresh herbs, rice, couscous, or lemon tahini. 

Enjoy!

Hagit in her home kitchen.