Red lentil soup

This soup is really easy and quick to prepare, and on top of that it consists almost only of fresh vegetables. I've recently found out that it's better to use fresh tomatoes instead of buying canned tomato paste in order to prepare soups and sauces. You can just buy fresh tomatoes, chop them, cook and blend. There's a big difference in the taste of fresh tomatos and tamato paste. If just like me, you did not have so much time in the summer to prepare you own tomato preserve in jars you can still get a similar result by using the fresh ones! I do not peel tomatoes and press them through the sieve on purpose. I believe that the most valuable vitamins are right under the skin, so why to get rid of them?! Besides the soup tastes better with some chunks to bite :)

Lentil soup with tomatos and chicken

Maybe the lentil soup doesn't have the best colour but I promise you, it tastes wonderful! I have tried many recipes but this is the ultimate one that I like the most.

Before I never used lentils in cooking but once I did I always come back to them. First of all, they have a delicious taste. If you like other legumes like beans, you will probably also like this one. Secondly, they are very healthy. These are some of the benefits of eating lentils:

- they are high in fiber which speeds up our metabolism

- they are a rich source of protein which means that it can replace meat, so vegetarians will probably be found of them (you can also cook my soup without the chicken meat)

- they are a rich source of folic acid which improves the work of our brain and nervous system

- they are a source of other important vitamins and minerals like: vitamin B1, B5, iron, zinc, which are also beneficial for our health.