We?ve concocted a delicious lentil vegetable soup for you to try!

Soups are a healthy option for anyone, particularly for people who are trying to lose weight.
Most soups (this one included) are high in fibre and low in calories, because they are bulked out by veg and stock.

This means they will fill you up and energise you, without sneaking in excess calories that might lead to weight gain.

Italian inspiration!

Our Mediterranean lentil soup is inspired by the flavours of Italian lentil soup recipes (minus the meat!).

The flavour base of onion, carrot and celery is often called the ?Holy Trinity? of Italian cooking. It?s official name is ?soffritto? and it forms the bases of many dishes, including ragu and numerous other soups, stews and sauces.
You want to chop the ingredients for your soffritto very finely, so that they break down and release as much flavour as possible. The mixture should taste rich, sweet and oniony.

Soffritto is often jazzed up with other flavours on top of the Holy Trinity. For our lentil vegetable soup, we have chosen to add garlic, rosemary and a sprinkling of chilli flakes.

The heady fragrance of garlic and rosemary, with a hint of heat from the chilli?what a combo!

Mix it all together with sweet, intense tomato sauce, nutty puy lentils and soft strips of cavolo nero, for the perfect vegan lentil soup.

We suggest serving this dish up with crispy croutons made from thick white bread fried in olive oil. The bread soa...