Italian Lentil and Sorrel Soup
by: Chef Ben Davis
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups Italian or French green lentils
2 garlic cloves, 1 unpeeled and 1 peeled and chopped
4 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red onion, peeled and chopped
2 1/4 cups sorrel, stems removed
2 1/2 cups hot chicken or vegetable stock
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
8 ounces baby spinach, stems removed
2/3 cup crème fraîche, optional
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook the Lentils
Place the lentils and unpeeled garlic clove in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Sauté the Aromatics
Melt the butter with the olive oil in a pot large enough to hold all the ingredients.
Add the onion and chopped garlic and sauté until softened.
Add the Sorrel
Add half of the sorrel and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Purée the Soup
Add 3/4 of the drained lentils and 3/4 of the chicken or vegetable stock. Season with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Purée the mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
Finish the Soup
Add the remaining sorrel and spinach. Stir in the remaining lentils and stock and heat through.
Serve
Serve the soup topped with crème fraîche, if desired, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.