Lentil cabbage soup

Ingredients

• Red lentils (dry)160g
• Cabbage (raw)300g
• Carrots (raw)200g
• Onions (raw)100g
• Potatoes (raw)200g
• Olive oil (raw)15ml
• Salt (dry)3g
• Black pepper (dry)1g
• Recipe water (raw)900ml

Method

1. Sort and rinse 160g red lentils. Cut 200g carrots and 200g potatoes into 1cm cubes, 100g onions into 5mm dice and 300g cabbage into 5mm ribbons. Heat 15ml olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and soften onion and carrot for 5 minutes.
2. Add lentils, potatoes and 900ml recipe water. Bring to a boil, partly cover and simmer over low heat for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils break down and potatoes are fork-tender. If the base catches, lower the heat and add a little hot processing water.
3. Add cabbage, 3g salt and 1g black pepper; simmer for 5–8 minutes until the thickest cabbage ribs are tender. If it is too thick to ladle, add and record extra processing water.
4. Rest for 2 minutes and serve in warmed bowls. Freeze late-week prep portions promptly in shallow containers on preparation day.
5. The displayed quantities already match your selected servings. For 1 serving use a small covered pot and check liquid early; for 2 use the stated method. For 4 or 8 use the planned pot-capacity batches and divide every ingredient proportionally. Keep each pot below 80% full. Maintain a gentle simmer and judge each batch by texture, not by multiplying the cooking time. Serve promptly. Cool any extra cooked food in shallow containers and refrigerate within two hours, or one hour above 32°C. Keep the fridge at 4°C or below. Reheat cooked leftovers evenly to 74°C, checking several places with a food thermometer. Keep raw garnishes and cold yogurt or tahini sauces separate and use them cold within their label limits.