recipe: week 3 - puy lentil and spinach soup

another one requiring veg that are not in our particular bag, but I am almost certain we will be getting spinach again sometime soon, so this one is standing by, as it sounds quite tasty.

puy lentil + spinach soup

2 tbsp olive oil
1 carrot, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped and diced
150g puy lentils, rinsed
salt and freshly ground pepper
150g spinach, chopped
1 onion, finely diced
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
3 tomatoes, cored, deseeded
1.3 litres stock
1 small bunch parsley

serve with 1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and parmesan or hard goats cheese (or other well flavored hard cheese)

in a large saucepan, warm the oil over a medium-low heat. add the chopped onion, carrot and thyme and sauté gently for five minutes. add the garlic and tomatoes, and sauté for a minute more. tip in lentils, store, then add the stock and a little salt and pepper. bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes, or until lentils are tender. add the parsley and spinach, simmer for five minutes, season to taste and ladle into warmed bowls. trickle over a little oil and, if you like, shave over some cheese with a vegetable peeler.