I was driving to Trader Joe’s yesterday morning when the radio talk hosts caught my attention. First, they asked how people thought the world would end. I fumbled around with a few answers in my head before the host proposed an asteroid crashing on to our planet. He also mentioned that the international government probably wouldn’t announce their findings to ensure chaos to be kept under control. Although I understand why, I’d be kind of bummed to find out that I had a month to do whatever I want.
What would I do, though? Travel? Lay outside all day? Reveal my deepest darkest secrets? Honestly, I’d probably live my life like normal just incase the astronomers were wrong. Totally random, but the question has been in the back of my mind all day.
Obligatory picture of my new grocery tote. I felt wrong wearing my Whole Food reusable bag at Trader Joe’s. But it has rainbow ice cream and donations help support SF Pride. #firstworldproblems
(P.S. Did you know San Francisco charges 10 cents a bag, if you don’t bring your own? Kind of cool and annoying at the same time because I ALWAYS forget my bag(s) at home.)
Chi is a cheese lover so I picked up an assortment of Spanish cheeses and parma prosciutto. I literally couldn’t finish my sentence before he raced to the refrigerator to make a plate. No lie.
I bought too much chorizo for my recipe, so I made Chorizo Breakfast Burritos for brunch and saved a serving for Chi to eat when he stopped home for lunch. I could of gone for three burritos, but I stopped at two. Thank goodness for my self control, phew. (Being sarcastic).
I was eating in the lunchroom at work on Friday when my coworker, Al, brought lentil soup that he made the night before. I made him give me a bite and it was so good! He told me his mom use to make it for him all the time. I knew I had to recreate it for my recipe this week.
Chorizo Lentil Soup
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
- .75 Lbs Chorizo
- 2 Cups Dried Lentils
- 1 Russet Potato, chopped
- 1 Medium Onion, diced
- 3 Roma Tomatoes, chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic, diced
- 6 Cups Chicken/Vegetable broth
- 1 Cup water
- Fresh Basil
- 1/3 Tsp Cumin
- 1 Tsp Dried Thyme
- 1/2 Tsp Oregano
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
TO PREP
1. Chop the washed potato and tomatoes, dice the onion and garlic.
2. Throw in the tomatoes and onion in a pan on medium heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then throw in the potatoes and chorizo for 8 minutes. Take 3 leaves of basil and rip little pieces into the pan. Stir occasionally.
TO COOK
3. Wash 2 cups of lentils. In a pot on high, pour in the broth and water. Add in the lentils. When broth is boiling, reduce heat to low. Stir in all the ingredients from the pan and mix.
4. Add in thyme, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Taste the broth until the flavor fits your needs. Stir and let the pot sit on low for ~50 minutes, until lentils and potatoes are the correct texture. Soft but not mushy.
5. Serve with fresh basil and top with queso fresco for garnish! This would be delicious with a side of crostini. 🙂
How do you think the world will end? How can I remember to bring my reusable bags with me?
i hope the world doesnt end- there is so much to see, do eat goshhhh. It scares me. I usually keep them in my trunk because i used to forget a lot as well.
I need to make a mental note to do the same thing.
We were so surprised about the bag thing when we visited SF. BUT, after we returned to Pittsburgh (which doesn’t charge) we started seeing plastic bags litter EVERYWHERE. I never noticed it before, but after seeing SF so bag-free, it was a big change coming home.
That soup looks awesome! I love chorizo 🙂
How did you like SF? I hear a lot of cities are inputting the same laws. Grocery stores don’t even carry plastic bags anymore, only paper! Crazy!
As soon as I saw the title of this post I instantly knew that I NEEDED to bookmark it and make it. I am so excited to try this out, but with soyrizo in order to make it vegetarian :).
You’re going to love it! I was so impressed with myself when I finished. Soyrizo would be just as good! 🙂
I JUST finished talking to one of my blogging friends because I was trying to find a new lentil soup recipe! This is so crazy! I already have printed this recipe! Thank you so so much 🙂
Yay, I’m so excited! Please let me know if you have any comments or suggestions. I’m starting to make PDFs of all my recipes so it’s easy to print out, I need to get on it soon!
I’d be like Chi–the moment you told me we had cheese I would go completely ham. I LOVE cheese. So much. I was never calcium deficient, that’s for sure. 🙂
I might sound pretentious but I love love love good, well made cheese. Krafts kind of cheese freaks me out.
Hahahahaha omg I feel the same exact way about cheese. Hilarious.
Lol i know- i dont know if i really would change my behavior all that much if the world was coming to an end. i mean, maybe? although i feel like it would be zombies that do us in 🙂 and oh my gosh, that soup looks SO good!
Zombies?! That’s the scariest one for me.
Haha, I love the two fingers in front of your measuring cup. No one will mess that part up.
I always keep my bags in my backseat of my car but if your walking to the store then I don’t know what to tell you!
I would probably be like you and continue on in case they were wrong about the world ending.
I always forget my bags too! I’m thinking about getting a few more and just keeping them everywhere. And I love the idea of making this soup with soy chorizo. I am definitely going to try it out!
They make you pay if you forget your bags?? Where I live they pay you 10 cents per bag for bringing them! I guess that’s my incentive to not forget them 😉
That soup looks yummy! Lentil soups are soooo good! Love the addition of fresh basil 🙂
I only had lentils a few times in my life but I love them. So healthy and full of fiber.
omg that cheese board looks incredible!
Interesting about the 10 cents per bag- seems like a really good way to help the environment, although like you said, I could see how it can get annoying!
I’m finding myself more aware about bringing the bag. The worst is when the cashier gives me the stink eye when I forget my bag like I just dumped a gallon of oil in the ocean!
Yum another great use of chorizo! I seriously have tons of the stuff in my freezer so you’re giving me the kick in the butt I need to start using it!
I always keep my reusable bags in the trunk of my car so they’re always with me 🙂
It’s so good, I’m curious to ask how it lasted so long in your freezer!
I am so making this soup soon! Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks Edgar, let me know if you have any questions. I’m also really diggin’ your site!
Ok girly, I don’t even eat meat and I’m all about this recipe. It looks so good, and that is for two real reasons:
1. You are an amazing photographer.
2. Lentils! I’ve never had them and I want to try them SO badly!! 🙂
If the world was about to end, I guess I’d do the same as you and carry on as normal for fear of it not actually ending. Hm, I like the deep thinking via the radio early in the morning.
Hey, only eating 2 is definitely utilizing self control. Don’t hate on yourself, lol!! 🙂
Just substitute for soyrizo and you’re good to go! I love the deep thinks in the morning as well, usually they touch on superficial subjects but they happened to hit a little deeper that day. 🙂
Just saw your soup on Tastespotting! The photo makes it look so romantic ;), and I know I’m a little weird, but I sort of love soup in the summertime – because you can make it ahead and it’s waiting for you when you get home from a long day out – or because you can let it simmer when it’s thunderstorming out. (We live in FL!) And the idea of crostini along side? But of course! Looks totally yummy – I’m saving recipe!
You know, that’s what I’m starting to love about soups and slowcooking. With soups, the leftovers always taste a little better the next day, which makes it a lot easier after being out for 12+ hours and just wanting to eat right there and then!
Oo, if you ever want a vegetarian version–Trader Joe’s vegan chorizo is AMAZING. Like, almost as good as the real deal–and real chorizo is pretty dang good. I’m so bad at remembering bags as well–having enough that there are always at least a few in my car helps.
Yes! I never tried their vegan chorizo, I’ll have to check it out. I love TJ’s and all they have to offer!
I loooove mango but I have to say, I never know how to cut them! That totally makes sense. I’m trying that next time!