Lentil Rice Soup

Photo: flickr user WordRidden

Ingredients

1 cup dried lentils

1 onion chopped

1 bay leaf

2 whole cloves

1/4 cup vegetable stock

1 carrot chopped

1 celery stalk chopped

1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon

Vegetable salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

8 cups water

1/2 cup brown rice

Preparation

Place lentils in a saucepan and cover with water; soak for a few hours or overnight. Drain and add all ingredients except rice. Cook over low heat, covered, about 1 hour, or till lentils are soft. After 1 hour, add brown rice. Cook longer, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. With a wooden spoon, crush some of the cooked lentils to thicken soup. Remove bay leaf and cloves before serving.