For Board-O and Grunhauser: Note the accreditation at the end.

Armenian Apricot Soup

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 onions, diced
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
3 cups red lentils, rinsed
10 cups water
12 ounces dried apricots, chopped
salt

Heat the oil in your soup pot over medium heat, then stir in the onions and carrots. Saute for about 10 minutes. Add the cumin and stir well. Decrease the heat, cover, and let the vegetables sweat for ten minutes.

Add the lentils and pour in enough of the water to cover. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook for twenty minutes, or until the lentils and carrots are tender. Add more of the water as needed as the lentils soften and expand.

Remove from the heat, stir in the apricots and any remaining water, and season with salt. Use an immersion blender to puree until smooth; alternatively working in batches, puree in a regular blender until smooth. Take care not to over salt this soup. The right amount will bring out the flavor of the apricots but leave the onions in the background. Serve hot.

Serves 8 to 10.

The Soup Peddler's Slow & Difficult Soups by David Ansel (Ten Speed Press, 2005)

How was it, you cheesecake afficianado?

I am a big soup fan, so I liked it. The apricot gives it one flavor, the cumin another, the lentils help with texture.
I would add just a sprinkle of parsley on the top for color.

My wife says she wants a soup recipe from you, but without any cream or milk. Whaddya got?

Well, my two most favorite are Vichyssoise and Lobster Bisque, but they don't qualify. I really don't make much soup, and what I do make is without a recipe. I make a beef mushroom soup that's very good, but I never make it the same way twice.

Thanks for recipe, irwin.

I had good Armenian friends back in the days, but never had a chance to venture off the slops of 5 star Ararat or a 10 year old Akhtamar. Man, those guys can eat meat.


Would your wife object to a zucchini soup?

Grun:
no objection to zucchini soup, so long as it has no dairy.
She makes a good zucchini soup already, though.

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:

She makes a good zucchini soup already, though.

Very funny. You know what? No soup for you. Come back one year.

what did I say? what did I say?