The difference between Lentil Soup and Adas Soup is that Adas which stands for Lentil is the Middle-Eastern version of the soup. Adas soup comes Yellow to Orange looking and is mostly served soft and creamy.

To most Middle-Eastern’s, Adas soup tastes like home. It is the soup served at most grandparents and parents, it is the soup of warmth and love. Adas soup is very popular during Ramadan as well, it is always served before anything else. I remember making Adas soup when I was living in Montreal every time I used to miss the Middle-East. Adas soup is the smell of any authentic Arab kitchen.

History & Culture 

Lentil in general is ancient, evidence show they were used for food 13 thousand years ago. Lentils used to be a very popular Iranian dish, they were poured over rice as a stew. Lentils are mentioned in all the books of Hebrew Bible, Bible and the Quran and is associated with the story of Prophet Jacob and is now associated as a traditional meal for a Jewish mourning. In Ethiopia a stew known dish is called Kik and is one of their national dishes. They also make a yellow non spicy dish for mothers to feed their babies with as their first meal. In India it is also known as the Dhal dish, which is a lentil curry dish that is served almost daily. In Italy and Hungary, Lentil is eaten on New Year’s Eve symbolizing Hope for a New prosperous year. The ancient Greeks used to love Lentil soup, and today Lentil soup is served almost everywhere around the world.

Types of Lentil

Lentil comes in more than one color, it can come in red, yellow, orange, green, brown, and black. For the Adas soup we always go for the orange lentils. We also use lentils to make dishes like: Mjadara with brown lentils. The Egyptian national dish is also made with brown lentils and is called Kushri.

Benefits

To begin with, they are usually very low in price all around the world. Lentils are healthy and have the 3rd highest level of protein, they are very low in fat and sodium, Lentils help reduce cholesterol, lowers risks in heart diseases, increases energy, and are very low in calories.

All photos are taken with a Canon 70D

You can listen to this song while you make your soup by Babylone Bakitini

SUZIE|S KITCHEN

Makes enough for 8 to 10 people – 1/2 total time required

Ingredients

3 cups of red lentil (3ads a7mar) it is orange in color

2 carrots (chopped in big chunks)

1 small potato (chopped in chunks with skin)

5 cups of water (room temperature)

2teaspoon salt

2teaspoon cumin (kamoon)

1 small onion (finely chopped)

1tablespoon of butter

1teaspoon of shredded ginger

Optional: ¼ cup of cooking cream

 

Recipe

1. Wash the lentil very well and place into a large saucepan along with the carrots and potato.

2. Add in the cumin and salt and water and turn on medium heat.

3. Wait for them to boil.

4. If the potato and carrots are not tender then add more water and wait for them to become tender before turning off the heat.

5. Pour your soup into an electric mixer and mix very well until creamy.

6. In the same saucepan, add the onion, butter and ginger and stir for few minutes until golden.

7. Pour the onion mix into the cream soup in the electric mixer and mix again.

8. Pour all the cream again into the saucepan and boil one more time.

9. Optional: Add ¼ cup of cooking cream and stir for few minutes while it boils and the turn your heat off.

10. If your soup is thick, just keep adding boiled water until it is good enough for you.  

Note: We always have side lemon to squeeze over the soup after serving and before eating; each can squeeze lemon to taste. We also always have fried squared pita bread or croutons, green onion, radish, fresh pepper, olives, pickles. And each can add to his/her own taste.

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