Hearty Vegan Lentil Soup

Get ready for two lentil soups: one vegan and the one to follow made with the delicious but humble hambone!

This is a complete protein, high in fiber, and with enough carbs to keep you going but is almost entirely fat free.

Hearty Vegan Lentil Soup

1 1/2 Cups Brown Lentils
1/2 to 3/4 Cup Pearl Barley (remember barley expands 4X as it cooks)
About 4 cups of water (you will need to add more as it reduces)
Plenty of Fresh Black Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne
1 Teaspoon Basil (dried is better for this recipe)
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric
Salt to taste

This recipe is simple--combine all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for about 50 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed.

The main flavor comes from the black pepper, so be generous with it. It is also better to add one or two turns of the pepper grinder to each dish as you serve it. If you don't have turmeric, you can omit it but it does give a subtle flavor and enhances the color of this particular dish.