No, no lady bugs were harmed in the making of this stew (though a few lentils and other veggies gave up the ghost for a good cause). My kids thought the green lentils looked like ladybugs and I thought it was a great name, so there you have it.
This soup was made using Bragg liquid aminos — my new favorite ingredient. You can use this to replace oil in many recipes that call for sauteing veggies without noticing any difference. In fact, when you use Bragg’s, there’s no need for high-sodium broths or bouillons.
So while there’s no oil and plenty of fiber and vitamins in the soup, what I like best about it is that it’s so hearty, filling and flavorful. It’s seriously one of the most satisfying soups we’ve tried in a while. I like to serve it with a crusty bread drizzled with olive oil.
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
2 carrots, sliced thin
2 garlic cloves
1 red pepper, diced
3/4 cup green lentils
1 to 2 tbsp. Bragg liquid aminos (taste test after 1 tbsp. then add more to taste)
1 cup kale, chopped (optional)
6 cups water (add more if you want a soup, rather than a stew)
Directions:
- Saute all of the veggies, except the kale, in 1 tbsp. liquid aminos for five minutes. (Add more aminos later to taste.)
- Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about two minutes.
- Add water and bring everything to a boil.
- Add lentils and simmer for 30 minutes, or until lentils are cooked al dente.
- During the last five minutes of cooking, add kale.
- Serve hot with warm, crusty bread and plenty of olive oil.