Orange-scented Lentil Soup garnished with a dollop of Greek yogurt and fresh pineapple bits
I am neither Catholic nor Argentinean. However, the selection of a new pope, like the election of an American president, coronation of an English royal or the FIFA World Cup competition, understandably captures global interest and attention.
Last Wednesday I suspect many of us joined with the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics in celebrating Argentinean Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s peaceful election as the first pontiff from Latin America. We’ll now know him as Pope Francis. That our FFWD colleague, Paula Montenegro, who blogs at Vintage Kitchen Notes is from Buenos Aires, makes this more exciting.
Hopeful that His Holiness possesses a sense of humor, I submit that this week’s FFWD recipe choice, Orange-Scented LENT-il Soup was in anticipation of White Smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel. Congratulations to the new pope and may he guide his followers wisely and with compassion.
Thinly sliced onions, carrots and celery stalks
“Lentil soup seems to have a lock on French hearts,” Dorie explains.
Dorie’s version of lentil soup
Yes, every French cook seems to have a version of his/her very own. Lentil soup chez Greenspan has its own flavor surprises, a touch of ginger and a prominent fragrance and taste of orange. For the legumes, try to find Lentils du Puy (French green lentils), found in high-end grocery stores, speciality culinary shops or on-line.
This is a simply made soup. Soften thinly sliced onions, celery stalks, and carrots in olive oil before adding broth, lentils, and spices. Bring to a boil and then simmer, covered, for 60 to 90 minutes or until the lentils soften. Season with salt and pepper and then puree to a smooth or chunky texture. I prefer chunky.
Oatmeal & Honey Bread, beautifully made and photographed by Michelle Morgando
Although the soup anchored many-a-meal for me this week, my first lunch was the most delicious. I toasted a slice of Oatmeal & Honey Bread, an elegantly scrumptious gift from my neighbor, Michelle Morgando. On the toast I piled smashed avocados sprinkled with lemon and salt, a treat suggested by Joy the Baker. I garnished my soup with a dollop of Greek yogurt topped with tiny slices of fresh pineapple. Yummy combo.
A perfect toasting bread for smashed avocados sprinkled with salt and lemon juice
Orange-scented Lentil Soup is a winner for me. To see what my colleagues mixed up this week, go here. If you want to add this to your own soup recipe collection, go here.
Yum! I love avocados on toast! This soup was delicious!
Your soup looks delish Mary – I think I’ll go chunky when I get round to making this.
What a marvelous meal, Mary…I am definitely picking up some avocados at the market today. I now have a massive craving 🙂
Oh Mary, I´ve been alternating between lentil soup and avocados on rye this past few days! That bread is gorgeous and so is the soup! Chunky is my style too.
Bergoglio as pope was a surprised because of his age. But he was runner-up on the last election 8 years ago, so it wasn´t that much of a surprise. But the feeling was of such excitement as all the other moments you mentioned in your first paragraph. And that´s also because many know him personally or have been to a mass given by him, so it´s kind of weird to be able to say that the pope married you! I have a friend who was given her first communion by him and even has pictures.
But he´s not in good terms with the government, so it´ll be a silent war in many aspects. I stopped being a catholic a long time ago; I simply hope good things come out of this.
Paula, as do we all.
Love your post! And enjoy your humor. Oh, that avocado toast looks fabulous…perfect with today’s soup. This soup kept us going all week too.
Lent-il soup. Oh my…
Lovely soup & beautiful bread. What a good neighbor 🙂
Off to pick the Runner Girl from school tonight for Spring Break. Yea!
I had a crispy loaf of bread as well. Love the avocados.
I grew up in a very serious Catholic family my maiden name is Papa (Pope… some relatives way back were scribes for the Papacy) I had so much fun with my mother trying to guess who they would select and for what political reasons. She nailed it. Picked Francis right off. I love that he choose Francis as a name. Do you know the Pray of St. Francis? Google it. It’s wonderful. It is also good that he is a Jesuit… they are the intellectuals of the church, and have a history of questioning it’s policies, though he seems conservative for a Jesuit. We will see. Now what did this all have to do with lentils?
Okay, Diane, agreed my Post might have been a stretch, LENT-ils, but I enjoyed your family anecdote and wouldn’t have received that if I had “stuck to soup”. Loved hearing that story. And, this Episcopalian will now google the Prayer of St. Francis. My husband was Jewish, my son-in-law’s father is a Lutheran minister, my grandchildren go to a Seven Day Adventists School and daughter Melissa leans towards Buddhism so I sure as heck can throw the Prayer of St. Francis into the mix.
Yum!! Avocados on fresh home made bread, and a lovely bowl of lentil soup, a perfect lunch!!
I love the addition of pineapple as a garnish…I’m sure it was great!
Mary, I got so involved with yours and Diane’s comments to each other! I was laughing as I read your reply. I am Catholic…but my husband tells me I’m more of an Episcopalian because of my liberalism. I feel the way Diane feels…I loved that the Pope chose the name Francis! And I loved that he was a Jesuit!
Happy Weekend!
Kathy, now you have really confused me. Am I Liberal because I am an Episcopalian or am I an Episcopalian because I am Liberal?
Mary, your soup is beautiful! I am so glad you enjoyed the bread and thanks to your followers for the lovely comments about the bread. You now have the recipe so make some when you get to Aspen, it will fuel you up for your hikes!
I continue to be so proud of you and your blog. This is an elegantly simple post -and yet will become so memorable. Lent-il soup on the week of the selection of Papa Francisco is genius. The recipe looks great, I’ve been thinking of making lentil soup all week, will prob do so this weekend. Thinking that so very soon, you can come over here and we can cook together-or I’ll go to your kitchen on the weeks you have an easier recipe (yours aren’t like my jiffys, but I’m willing to try) Also, do you remember the old Explore Books restaurant had an orange infused lentil soup and we all thought it was soooo sophisticated.
Can’t wait to see you. B.
Your soup looks wonderful. It was delicious. I loved all the exotic favors. Hope you have a nice weekend.
Oh, man, what an awesome-looking lunch. Those little avocado toasts look fantastic! And so does the soup, of course! This was such a great soup, and a wonderful way to open the door to lentils. It’s a delicious way to say goodbye to winter. Have a good weekend!
Your soup looks good but you had me with the avocados on bread. I sometimes buy a
bag at Costco and naturally they all ripen at the same time. I never thought to
use them on bread. Normally, I just slice them into salad or use them with salsa as
a side dish. Tricia and I are excited about Seattle and I think it is going to be a lot of fun.
We are both anxious to meet everyone. Have a great weekend.
Honestly, Mary, this wasn’t my favorite, but I seem to be in the minority. Your avocado tartine looks delicious, though. (The pineapple on top is truly inspired.)
Mary, so glad that you enjoyed this wonderful lentil soup as well, I am intrigued by the pineapple bits as a garnish – that would never have occured to me, it does look lovely though. But I really like your toasted oatmeal and honey bread with the wonderful chunks of avocado – I have a serious avocado lover at my house, so I will follow your lead and serve her this “tartine” as soon as I can find nice and ripe avocados (not always an easy task around here – but there is hope, a new, huge fruit store will open this week in our neighbourhood). The girls are all sending big, fat hugs and hopefully their letter has arrived at your Aspen address by now.
Have a good Sunday!
What a great meal, Mary. Your soup looks delicious and perfectly balanced with the oatmeal and honey bread with the avocado. We often have avocado with some lemon or lime juice only we usually have it in a tortilla. It looks wonderful on the toast.
First- how excited are Nana and I to get to meet all the Doristas going to IFBC ? V.E.R.Y !!!!! So , so psyched 🙂 Now the soup and your post- both are lovely. I am catholic and loved your “lent-il” comment. Very cute and I had not thought of that. I also think it is funny and sweet how we now think of current events also in terms of which Doristas are affected (Paula, I am looking at you 🙂 And don’t get me started on how fab that bread looked. I am working my way through my own with way too much of the cheesy creme brulee on top- it is honestly one of the best combos I know…….and I will need to do one of those “cleanse” diets if I don’t cut back calories soon. Perhaps just adding avocado instead 🙂
I’m totally making my soup chunky next time too – beautiful!
Your avocado sandwich is making me hungry! The bread is gorgeous and it sounds like a perfect combination. I also really like the pineapple garnish–it makes the photos so much prettier.