CURRIED SWEET POTATO AND RED LENTIL SOUP

The flavors in this soup are out of this world!  Like a little taste of India in a bowl. 
I've always wanted to visit India: indulge in some of the yoga retreats, visit temples, and enjoy some lovely spiced-up dishes. I would probably visit some jewelry manufacturers as well, since I studied gemology, and used to be a jeweler years ago. It is no wonder this country has piqued my interests.  The food is flavorful, and their jewelry is quite intricate. It would definitely be a great place to both stuff your face and buy a unique sparkly treasure.

Let's get back to the soup, as I can get carried away easily when talking about travels... The soup is a little bit on the thick side (almost like a stew) so it feels very filling.  I had a large bowl for dinner and was satisfied.  So if you don't feel like cooking a whole lot of food, this will be ideal.  :)
It would make a great lunch to keep you going on a busy day as well.  

CURRIED SWEET POTATO AND RED LENTIL SOUP

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger, chopped very small
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped very small
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 3-4 sweet potatoes, skin removed and cut into 1/2-3/4 inch cubes (about 4 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups of red lentils
• 6 cups of broth + 1 tomato blended together in a blender until smooth
• 1 tablespoon of curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin powder
• 2 tomatoes chopped
• 1/2 cup of coconut milk
• 3 cups of chopped spinach
• Sea salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation:

1. In a large pot, heat up the olive oil under medium heat.
2. Add the onions, ginger, and garlic and cook 4-5 minutes until the onions are translucent.
3. Add the all of the other ingredients except the coconut milk and the spinach, and bring to boil.
4. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender. 
5. Add the coconut milk and the spinach, and cook 2-3 minutes until the spinach is wilted. 

Serve warm

This will make 6 servings