Polish Lentil Soup Recipe – Zupa Soczewicowa

Soups are an important part of the Polish diet. They are generally hearty meals and are extremely filling. This is why you will find that they are eaten as a meal for lunch or dinner. One of the interesting soups is the Polish lentil soup. It does not require a lot of ingredients and it is relatively quick to make.

As can be imagined, lentils are a key ingredient in the recipe. Lentils are available all year round, are easy to store, and are cheap. This alone makes it a great recipe for days when you’ve not had a chance to visit the market and want a nice wholesome meal.

Polish lentil soup is considered one of the healthiest soups because it is a low-calorie meal and yet is packed with nutrients. Lentils are also a big source of protein and fiber. This means that a bowl of lentil soup is also very filling. 

This recipe is very versatile. As is, the recipe is vegetarian if you use a vegetable broth. If you omit the sour cream and swap the rosol with a veggie broth, you will find that the Polish lentil soup can be made vegan. Plus if you want a really rich meal, you can even add fried kielbasa to the recipe.

Polish Lentil Soup Recipe – Zupa Soczewicowa

Part I – Rinse The Lentils A Few Times And Then Cook

The Polish lentil soup will require just one cup of lentil. It may look like a little but the lentil will expand as it absorbs water and this will give you considerably more in terms of quantity. Wash the lentils a couple of times. Drain them and then cook them. The lentils should be soft after cooking. This will give the soup the soft texture that we know so well. 

Part II – Peel And Chop The Onions And Garlic

Onions and garlic are a key ingredient in the Polish lentil soup. They help you form a nice flavorful base. You will need 2 onions and 5 garlic cloves for this recipe. Clean the onions and garlic. The onions need to be then chopped fine. The garlic on the other hand should be crushed. This will ensure that the flavor of the garlic clove is released.

Part III – Fry The Onions And Garlic With Olive Oil For About 5 minutes.

Part IV – Pour The Broth And Add The Onions And Garlic.

For the next step you will need a large pot. Pour 4 cups of broth into the pot. Add in the fried onions and garlic to the broth.

Part V – Add The Cooked Lentils

Part VI – Add 1 Can Of Diced Tomatoes

Part VII – Season With Salt, Pepper And Paprika

Part VIII – Serve Warm

The Polish lentil soup is served warm. Add in a dollop of sour cream and fresh dill or parsley just before serving. The sour cream gives the lentil soup a nice creamy taste. The dill or parsley adds to the flavor.

Polish Lentil Soup – Frequently Asked Questions About Zupa Soczewicowa

Is The Polish Lentil Soup Vegan?

Polish lentil soup can also be made vegan. To do this make sure that you use a vegetable broth. Do not add in the sour cream either. This will change the taste slightly but it still tastes excellent.

Are There Any Other Variations To This Recipe?

The Polish lentil soup is a filling meal but it can be made even richer by adding fried kielbasa to the mixture. Other ingredients that can be added to the recipe include cooked pasta and potatoes. Some people also add bread. Bread however makes a great side dish alongside the soup too!

What Kind Of Broth Should I Use When Making The Lentil Soup?

Many different kinds of broth are available in the market. Note that if you are making a vegan or vegetable soup, check the label before buying the broth to make sure it has the right ingredients. 

Another great way to make this soup is to make the broth at home. Rosol is the homemade version of the Polish broth and it is made using different types of meat. Generally, most people use poultry like chicken and turkey. The other types of meat that you can use include duck, beef, rabbit, pheasant, quail, pigeon, and veal. The important thing to note is that to make good broth the meat needs to be fresh and never frozen. This is because frozen meat does not have an intense flavor.

Another important thing that you need to keep in mind is that the rosol (broth) needs to be cooked slowly and for a long time. The key is that the liquid should not boil. This will help you get the maximum flavor out of the meat that you are cooking.

Yield: 6 portions

Polish Lentil Soup Recipe - Zupa Soczewicowa

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Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 cups / 1 litre / 1 quart of broth
• 1 cup of lentils
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 2 onions
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of pepper
• 1 tsp of paprika
• sour cream to serve
• fresh dill/parsley to serve

Instructions

1. Rinse lentils a few times, then cook until soft.
2. Peel onions and garlic cloves.
3. Finely chop onions and crush garlic cloves.
4. Fry onions and garlic with olive oil for about 5 minutes.
5. Pour broth into the big pot.
6. Add fried garlic and onion.
7. Add cooked lentils.
8. Add diced tomatoes.
9. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
10. Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream and fresh dill/parsley.

Notes

1. If you want to make the soup richer, serve it with fried kiełbasa, cooked pasta, potatoes, or bread.
2. If you want to make homemade broth, follow this recipe.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 138Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 657mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 8g

These data are indicative and calculated by Nutritionix