Red Lentil, Mushroom and Harissa Soup

This soup is adapted from a Hairy Biker recipe and is a real treat.  It is fragrant, full of flavour and so easy to make.

Ingredients, serves 4

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion finely chopped

3 garlic cloves finely chopped

2 tbsp chopped coriander stems, reserve the leaves

2 tbsp harissa paste

200g red lentils

1 litre vegetable stock

250g passata

200g mushrooms chopped into 1cm chunks

1 lemon

Method

Heat the oil in a saucepan.  Add the onions and cook over a low heat until they are soft.  Add the garlic and coriander stems and cook for a few more minutes before adding the harissa paste.

Add the lentils and coat them in the paste, giving everything a good stir.  Next add the vegetable stock.  Bring to the boil and then simmer for 10 minutes, adding the mushrooms.  Then add the passata and simmer for a further 10 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper, add chopped coriander leaves and the juice of half a lemon, stir through and serve.