Sunday Open Thread: “The Love Lentil Soup”

I came across a statement recently: “El amor entra por la cocina” (loosely translated as “love enters through a man's stomach”), and it sparked the idea to write up this article. Another popular statement you might have heard is: “The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.” From personal experiences I can attest to the truth behind these statements.  There are times when life becomes monotonous and we live our lives following the same routine, one day after another. Then I have a sudden urge to cook up a scrumptious Indian meal and that is all it takes to bring back the spice in life, pun intended. Believe it or not, most men prefer female partners who know how to cook. Men, in general, like to come home to a wife who would lovingly serve him with a homemade dish, and this is one of the major points I stress on in my Indian cooking classes. As you grow in your relationship with your husband, intimacy should become interwoven in your daily affairs. This was best exemplified in the life and mannerism of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) where some reports suggest that he would sit and eat with his wives. Aisha (radi Allahu anha) would take a sip, and the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) would do the same from the same spot her lips had touched. Romance and affection was infused in their lives in the smallest of gestures. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) also advised us, “Eat together and not separately, for the blessings [are] associated with the company”, recorded in Ibn Majah.

Give the recipe below a try and see how a mouthwatering meal inspires your relationship with love and leaves you both with memories of “good times.”  I call it the “Love Lentil Soup” because a plethora of ingredients come together lovingly to make a flavorful lentil soup.

Makes 6 servings

1 tbsp olive oil

1½ cups chopped onions

1 cup chopped celery

2 tsp minced garlic

2 cups small cauliflower florets

1 cup diced carrots

1 tbsp grated gingerroot

2 tsp mild curry powder

1 tsp each ground cumin, ground coriander and chili powder

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

3 cups vegetable broth

1 can (540ml) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 can (540ml) lentils, drained and rinsed

1/3 cup light sour cream

1 to 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1.  Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large, nonstick soup pot.

2.  Add onions, celery and garlic.

3.  Cook and stir until vegetables begin to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes.

4.  Add cauliflower, carrots, gingerroot, curry powder, cumin, coriander, chili powder and cinnamon.

5.  Stir until vegetables are coated with spices and cook 1 more minute.

6.   Add broth, tomatoes with liquid, brown sugar and salt.

7.  Bring soup to boil.

8.  Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 15 minutes.

9.  Add lentils and simmer for 5 more minutes.

10.  Remove from heat.

11.  Transfer half of soup to a blender and puree until smooth.

12.  Return pureed soup to pot with remaining soup.

13.  Add sour cream and cilantro and mix well.

14.  Taste soup and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Bismillah! Enjoy!