When it starts to get cold outside, I really crave simple and filling meals, and this soup perfectly fits the bill. Red lentils are used here because they start to fall apart when cooked which works wonders on thickening the soup, and pureeing half the soup at the end helps even more in lending it a hearty thick consistency. Smoked paprika is one of my favorite spices, so I’ve made it the star of the show here (if you want, you can add some sweet paprika as well). This soup tastes equally well served plain or with a tangy dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt and can work as a full meal or a hearty appetizer.
for things like this), and the bit of chocolate stirred in at the end is a great touch. I think next time I make this, I’ll replace one cup of the stock with a cup of beer (ideally something dark and smoky), adding it slightly before adding the stock to deglaze the pan.