Zucchini lentil soup: Zucchini Dal, Courgette and lentil soup

Today, I will share one of the best recipes, zucchini Lentil soup, also known as Zucchini Dal. It is a vegetable lentil soup that has a taste of zucchini and is a healthy soup for everyone, of all seasons. The nutritious lentil (dal) soup incorporates protein-rich lentils with the natural sweetness of zucchini, perfectly complementing their flavors. Here, you will find all you need to know about Zucchini Lentil Soup:: Zucchini Dal—ingredients required, step-by-step preparation, and serving suggestions for this yummy soup.

Ingredient	Quantity
Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)	1 cup
Zucchini in chopped form	2 size medium
Onion chopped finely	1 size large
Tomato in chopped form	2 medium
Garlic cloves, minced	4
Ginger, grated	1 tablespoon
Green chilies, slit	2
Turmeric powder	Only one tsp
Take Cumin seeds	Only one tsp
Need Mustard seeds	Take 1 tsp
Take Curry leaves	10-12
Asafetida (Hing)	A pinch
Water	4 cups
Oil (preferably coconut or vegetable)	Need 2 tbsp
Required Salt	As your taste
Fresh coriander leaves, chopped	For garnish

 

Preparing the Lentils

1. Rinse the Lentils: Firstly, make sure that you wash the red lentils well under running water until such time when you find that the water is clear. This helps in washing off excess starch and in the elimination of other unwanted materials.
2. Soak the Lentils: Wash red lentils in simple water and let them soak in the water for about half an hour. This step is optional but facilitates the process of decreasing the cooking time.

Cooking the Lentils

1. Boil the dal: First, take a pot and put the soaked dal in it, and then add 3 cups of water and boil it, once it boils, reduce the heat and skim off the foam.
2. Add Turmeric: Put the turmeric powder into the boiling lentils and let it simmer until the red lentil is fully cooked and soft like mashed, which should take 20-25 minutes. If necessary, more water can be added to soften the lentils.

Preparing the Zucchini

1. Chop the Zucchini: When the lentils are cooking, wash and chop the zucchini vegetable into small pieces so they can soften during the lentils cooking.
2. Cook the Zucchini: Take another pan and heat one spoonful of cooking oil. Mix the chopped zucchini, and cook on medium heat until the zucchini has started to lose some of its hardness, which should take roughly 5-7 minutes.

Making the Tempering (Tadka)

1.   Heat the Oil: Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the small skillet and place the skillet on medium heat.
2.   Add Spices: Now take the cumin seeds with mustard and add to the hot oil. Let them crackle and fry to enhance the taste of food you prepare for your family or friends.
3.   Add Aromatics: Include the asafetida powder, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger paste, and green chilies that have been slit. It is advisable to fry them for about a minute so that they start releasing an aroma.
4.   Add Onions and Tomatoes: Finally, add the chopped onions and sauté until golden brown. Then add the chopped tomatoes and fry them until they become soft and release their juice.
5.   Adding curry leaves: Lastly, add the curry leaves and stir for another minute.

Combining the Ingredients

1. Mix lentils and zucchini: Mix the boiled zucchini with the first cooked lentils. Stir well to combine.
2.   Add Tempering: Pour the prepared tempering into the simmering lentil and zucchini mixture. Stir well to ensure all ingredients have blended properly with other ingredients.
3. Simmer: After that, let the soup continue boiling for another 5-10 minutes, to increase the chances of the ingredients mixing perfectly. If the mixture is too thick, adjust the consistency with water.

Serving Suggestions

Zucchini Dal can be served in various delightful ways:

• With Rice

This should be served with a plate of hot basmati rice or jasmine rice. Lentil soup is creamy and soft rice is served with lentil soup to make a hearty meal.

• With Bread

This soup can be best served with dinner rolls or fresh Indian bread such as naan, roti, or chapati. The bread helps soak up the delicious zucchini lentil soup, making every bite delicious.

• As a Soup

For best results, use Zucchini Dal as a soup on its own. Enjoy it in a bowl with a sprinkle of fresh lemon juice and freshly chopped coriander. This is a light soup recipe, which can be taken as a starter or as a single-serving dish.

• With a Side Salad

Serve the Zucchini Dal with a salad dish prepared from raw cucumber, tomatoes, and onions seasoned with lemon juice and salt. A fresh, lightweight salad complements the warm, piquant soup very well.

• Putting a Little Yogurt on Your Plate

You can serve your Zucchini Dal with a spoonful of plain yogurt. Black pepper complements the spices in the soup and helps neutralize the heat.

Final words

Zucchini dal is a delicious food, that is very suitable for eating in different forms. It is flavorful and full of great flavors of spices and herbs, lentils, and zucchini making it a great meal. This recipe is best eaten with rice or bread, but if you want to use it as a soup only, go for it, it will soon become part of your regular meal.

Nutrient Facts

I hope you enjoyed this recipe and will give it another go next time. We trust you found it enjoyable. The Recipezious team will serve you more healthy and delicious meal recipes shortly. Please DO NOT forget to like, share the post, and feel free to comment below!!