Karen Wright: Speedy curried soup that sounds and tastes exotic

I have always loved to browse the pages of cookbooks looking for inspiration for my own dishes.

This year I asked for a Yotam Ottolenghi book as his recipes had been recommended to me. The first recipe that I made from the book is the one that I am going to share with you today.

I chose this as I was looking for something that I could make for a video I was working on for the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

The recipe had of course got to be very tasty, but also quick and easy to make with store cupboard ingredients. The recipe just happened to be Vegan too so as it is still Veganuary I wanted to try it out.

It is a soup recipe again. In winter I think soup is the best thing at lunchtime, hearty and warming.

This is a curried lentil, tomato, and coconut soup. It sounds exotic and tastes it too, but it can be on the table inside half an hour. Lentils are packed full of protein and nutrients and I used a pouch of cooked lentils, but you could use tinned or cook from scratch.

To make the soup, take a medium size saucepan and heat a couple of tablespoons of oil for a minute and then add a finely chopped onion.

Cook the onions gently for about five minutes on a low heat, this will allow the natural sweetness of the onion to be released. Add a tablespoon of curry powder, a pinch of chilli flakes and a squeeze of both ginger and garlic puree.

Let these spices cook for a couple of minutes then add a 250g pouch of cooked lentils, a couple of tins of chopped tomatoes and about 200ml water. Bubble the soup up and then add salt and pepper to taste. Finally add a tin of coconut milk, heat it through and serve with a scattering of chopped coriander.

This makes lots of soup and it keeps well for a couple of days in the fridge.

You can view the video of how I made this if you check out my Karen Wright Bake Facebook page or the Caravan and Motorhome Club Instagram.

It is a new month next week and a step closer to lighter nights and brighter days.

I made a smashing raspberry and chocolate slice the other day using up cake trimmings. I think we all deserve a treat so I think I will show you what it looked like and how you too can make it.

Stay safe everyone!