Why is my lentil soup so thick?

Go easy— if you purée the soup too much , it will get too thick and you'll lose the integrity of the lentils. If you don't have an immersion blender, transfer a few cups of the soup to a standard blender and purée, then return the blended soup to the pot.

Is it better to cook soup slowly?

Depth of flavour: Cooking ingredients long and slow can create a delicious depth of flavour . This soup recipe is a good example of one such dish. So is my French Onion Slow Cooker Soup.

Can you overcook lentils in soup?

Yes, you can overcook lentils ; they will become mushy. Much depends on the type of lentil you're using. Some cook quicker and hold their shape better than others. To avoid overcooking them, always follow the cooking directions in your recipe and use the type of lentils called for in the ingredient list.

Should lentils be soaked for soup?

Unsoaked legumes are much harder to digest, and the consequences are “windy.” I prefer to soak all my legumes because then I can enjoy eating large amounts of lentil soup without feeling all bloated. Lentils are 100 times easier to digest when soaked for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 hours.

What vegetables should not be added to a slow cooker?

Tender vegetables Vegetables such as peas, asparagus and peppers can become a flavorless, mushy mess in a slow cooker. Stick to heartier root vegetables like potatoes, onions, leeks and yams, or wait to add the tender vegetables until the last 30 minutes or so of cooking time.

Can you overcook soup in a slow cooker?

Editor's Tip: Can you overcook soup in a slow cooker? It's a common question—and the short answer is yes. Ingredients like veggies, pasta and rice can get very mushy if left in the slow cooker too long . Many meats will toughen, too.

How long can you leave soup in a slow cooker?

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm.

How do you fix soup that is too thick?

Add more liquid : The simplest solution is to add more liquid, such as water, broth, or milk. Start by adding a small amount and gradually add more until you reach the desired consistency. Use a blender: If you have a blender, you can puree the soup in batches, adding more liquid as needed.

How do you make lentils less watery?

You can thicken lentils by simmering it a little more or adding a table spoon of cream ( malai) into it …. If there's more liquid than you like in your lentils, after they're cooked, you can pour off the excess liquid into a different pot, and boil the liquid down until it's thicker.

What if I put too much water in my lentil soup?

You can add some cornflour mixed in little water and let it boil with your soup till get nice thick consistency. And if you are a health conscious fellow then go for cooked oats. As I do, cook some oats along with lentils and then puree it to make soup. This will not only thicken your soup but add some more health too.

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (2024)

Published: Oct 18, 2012 · by Nicole · Updated: Jan 1, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

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You're going to love this Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup. It's filling, easy to make, and totally healthy!

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (1)

I own a ton of cookbooks, but if I had to choose the one I use the most often in my kitchen, it's Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson. This is my book that has notes scrawled all over the pages and food spatters on the most frequently used recipes. If you're a vegetarian and you own a slow cooker, you should really buy this book!

This recipe is adapted from a kale and lentil soup that's in Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker. It's not super fancy, it's not a show-stopper, but it's a delicious, hearty soup for a chilly fall evening. I replaced the kale with chard—and used a lot more than the original recipe calls for. We love Swiss chard, and if I was buying a whole bunch anyway, why not use it? I even threw in the stems, so nothing goes to waste! I also added some Yukon potatoes to make this soup even more filling, but sweet potatoes or butternut squash would probably be just as tasty.

How to Make Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (4)

Heat oil in a skillet.
Add veggies and cook until softened.
Add veggies and ingredients to slow cooker.
Cook on low for 8 hours.
Season with salt, pepper, and boiled chard leaves.

Full directions for how to make Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup are in the printable recipe card below.

Chard, Lentil, & Potato Slow Cooker Soup FAQs

Chard, Lentil & Potato Slow Cooker Soup Recipe (5)

Why do you love this cookbook?

The thing I love about Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker is that the recipes are mostly unfussy. You might have to sauté some ingredients before putting them in the crockpot. But other than that, things are pretty uncomplicated—which is what I like in a cookbook. I want realistic, everyday meals. I want a cookbook I can use, not one with lots of pretty pictures of recipes that are a such pain to assemble that I'll probably never make.

When I was working full-time and going to library school full-time (yeah, that happened), I worked my way through a good half of the recipes in this cookbook. They were so easy to put together! I could let them cook in the crockpot all day and dinner would be ready when we got home. Without fail, they were all winners. The best part was that there were always leftovers, so we could have them for dinner the next day or freeze them. The only thing easier than a slow cooker meal is a leftover meal! Or stopping at Chipotle on the way home from work. (Yeah, that happened too.)

Can I freeze this soup?

You can easily freeze this soup. Simply let it cool down a bit, pour it into freezer-friendly containers or ziplock bags, and pop it in the freezer until you're ready to eat it again! I recommend separating the soup into serving-size portions so you don't have to thaw all of your frozen soup when you only want to eat one cup.

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