Lentil soup facts for kids
Lentil soup is a warm and tasty soup made mainly from lentils. It's a very popular dish in the Middle East, which is a region in Western Asia and North Africa.
Most of the time, lentil soup is a vegetarian dish, meaning it doesn't have meat. But sometimes, people make it with meat stock (a flavorful liquid made from boiling meat bones). You can use red or green lentils. Often, other vegetables like carrots, potatoes, parsley, and onion are cooked with the lentils. After cooking, these ingredients are often pureed, which means they are blended until smooth.
To make the soup even more delicious, people often add garlic, cumin (a spice), and lemon juice. Sometimes, small pieces of toasted bread called croutons are added on top.
A Look Back in Time
Lentil soup has a long history! It's even mentioned in the Bible. In the book of Genesis, there's a story about a man named Esau. He was so hungry that he traded his special birthright (a big family privilege) to his brother, Jacob, just for a bowl of fragrant red lentil soup.
An ancient Greek writer named Aristophanes also wrote about lentil soup in his plays. He called it the "sweetest of delicacies," showing how much people enjoyed it even back then.
For a long time, lentil soup was seen as a simple food, often eaten by people who didn't have much money.
Why Lentil Soup is Good For You
Today, we know that lentil soup is super healthy! It's packed with good things your body needs. It's a great source of protein, which helps build and repair your body. It also has lots of fiber, which is good for your digestion. Plus, it gives you important minerals like iron and potassium. So, it's not just tasty, it's also very nutritious!
Images for kids
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Several types of lentils used in lentil soup
See also
In Spanish: Sopa de lentejas para niños
