Greek Lentil Soup (Fakes) Recipe

Introduction

Greek lentil soup, or Fakes, is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for any season. It features tender lentils simmered with aromatic vegetables and spices, offering a nutritious and flavorful meal that’s simple to prepare.

Ingredients

• 400 g (2 cups) lentils (14 oz)
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 large onion
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 3 chicken or vegetable stock cubes
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 sprig thyme
• 2 tsp smoked garlic powder
• 1 tsp berbere or cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1.7 litres hot water (57.5 fl. oz) (or 1.2 litres if using a pressure cooker)
• 200 ml tomato purée (6.8 fl. oz) (can use crushed tomatoes or sauce)
• Olive oil (for sautéing)

Instructions

1. Step 1: First, clean the lentils carefully, removing any debris or damaged lentils.
2. Step 2: Peel and chop the onion and carrot finely using an electric mixer or a sharp knife.
3. Step 3: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and carrot, sautéing until softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute to bring out the flavor.
5. Step 5: Add garlic powder, sugar, black pepper, thyme, berbere (or cayenne pepper), bay leaves, and stock cubes to the pot.
6. Step 6: Pour in the hot water and tomato purée, stirring to combine all ingredients well.
7. Step 7: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer.
8. Step 8: Let the soup simmer for about 60 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Add more hot water if you prefer a thinner soup.
9. Step 9: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving.

Tips & Variations

• For a richer flavor, use homemade vegetable or chicken stock instead of cubes.
• Serve with a drizzle of good quality olive oil and crusty bread for a complete meal.
• For added freshness, sprinkle chopped parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
• Replace berbere with smoked paprika for a milder smoky taste.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat, adding a little water if the soup has thickened.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a pressure cooker for this soup?

Yes, if using a pressure cooker, reduce the water to about 1.2 litres and cook the lentils for around 15-20 minutes under pressure until tender.

Is it possible to make this soup vegan?

Absolutely. Use vegetable stock cubes or homemade vegetable broth and ensure the tomato purée contains no animal products.

Greek Lentil Soup (Fakes) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 60 reviews

• Author: Thomas
• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

A hearty and comforting traditional Greek lentil soup known as Fakes, packed with nutritious lentils, aromatic vegetables, and a blend of flavorful herbs and spices. This easy-to-make stew is perfect for warming up any day and offers a delicious vegetarian meal option.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients

• 400 g Lentils (2 Cups) (14 oz)
• 1 medium Carrot
• 1 large Onion
• 1 tsp Tomato paste
• 2–3 Bay leaves
• 3 Chicken or Vegetable stock cubes
• 2 tsp Sugar
• 1 Thyme sprig
• 2 tsp Smoked Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Berbere seasoning (or cayenne pepper)
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 1.7 litres Hot water (57.5 fl.oz) (or 1.2 litres if using a pressure cooker)
• 200 ml Tomato purée (6.8 fl.oz) (can use crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce as alternatives)

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Instructions

1. Clean the lentils: Rinse the lentils thoroughly under cold water, removing any debris or damaged lentils to ensure a clean soup base.
2. Chop vegetables: Peel the onion and carrot, then chop them finely using an electric mixer or food processor for uniform texture.
3. Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add the chopped onions and carrots and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Then stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional minute to build flavor.
4. Add spices and stock: Incorporate the smoked garlic powder, sugar, black pepper, thyme sprig, berbere or cayenne pepper, bay leaves, and stock cubes into the pot, mixing well to combine all spices with the sautéed vegetables.
5. Pour liquids: Add the hot water and tomato purée carefully into the pot, stirring everything together to blend the flavors evenly.
6. Bring to boil: Increase heat to bring the mixture to a gentle boil, ensuring all ingredients are well combined and beginning to cook thoroughly.
7. Simmer the soup: Reduce heat to low and let the soup gently simmer for about 60 minutes, or until lentils are tender and fully cooked. Add extra hot water if you prefer a thinner consistency.
8. Season to taste: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt, pepper, or spices according to your preference before serving.

Notes

• You can substitute vegetable stock cubes to keep the recipe vegetarian or vegan friendly.
• For a spicier soup, increase the berbere or cayenne pepper amount.
• This soup pairs well with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal.
• Leftover soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
• Using a pressure cooker reduces cooking time to about 25-30 minutes.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Greek

Keywords: Greek lentil soup, Fakes, lentil stew, vegetarian soup, easy lentil recipe