not-so-lazy lentil soup

[rootofnewt]

krasota: how about enchiladas?
explodingcat: i'm HUNGRY. i want dinner *now*.
krasota: it's a little late for that.

almost lazy-ass lentil soup:

a teaspoon or so of olive oil
a bit of crushed red pepper
half an onion, chopped
two baby carrots, sliced into rounds
half a long stalk of celery, diced
1 tomato (i used a vine-on, so small to medium)
a couple forkfuls of minced garlic
a splash or two of white wine (1/4 to 1/2 cup)
a few pieces or so of roasted red pepper in oil
1 can Amy's lentil soup

assorted dried herbs: oregano, rubbed sage, tarragon, savory
salt, freshly ground pepper, worcestershire (i use angostura--soy-free, vegetarian)

heat oil in pan, add crushed red pepper, onion, carrots, celery... i added as i/boy chopped (i do onions, he usually does everything else, but i handled the tomato today as he was eating his chicken patty). as the onions softened and blended with everything, I think I added some oregano, i tossed it more, then added the wine--a couple healthy splashes/pours. as the wine was reducing a bit, i chopped up and added the red pepper--less than a whole italian capiscum, around half, probably. stirred a bit longer and started adding the herbs--i rubbed a pinch or three of each over the pot. I think more oregano, too.

when the mixture resembled a yummy veggie relish in consistency (not too watery), i added the can of soup. stirred it. added salt to taste, then a couple squirts (maybe half a teaspoon or more) of the worcestershire sauce.

YUM! would be quite good with bread, but i'm wheat-free today (i don't extend that to vinegar, which is in the angostura). it took less than 15 minutes, because i kept tossing the veggies over higher heat, rather then letting them simmer. and i let the celery stay mildly crunchy, which is how i like it (i like it cooked down in soup, too, but boy was hungry).

to serve more people, add a can of soup beans (beans, barley, lentils in the brand i buy) and some more herbs. i haven't tried this, but i would if i needed to. ;)