Hearty Lentil and Potato Soup with Leafy Greens

This satisfying soup features lentils, potatoes (and optional sweet potatoes) and greens, a trio of compatible ingredients in a mildly curried broth. This is a wonderful soup to come home to on a cold late fall or winter day, so make it on a quiet Sunday and enjoy it when you come home from work the next day. It's also a good choice to pack in a Thermos, to take to work or school.

Serves: 6 to 8

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup raw brown or green lentils, rinsed
1 large celery stalk, diced
6 cups water
2 large potatoes, scrubbed and diced (or use 1 large potato and 1 medium-large sweet potato)
15- to 16-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained (try fire-roasted for extra flavor)
2 to 3 teaspoons good-quality curry powder, or more, to taste
1 tablespoon salt-free seasoning blend (like Frontier or Mrs. Dash)
6 to 8 ounces leafy greens, washed, stemmed, and chopped (use chard, kale, collard greens, spinach, or arugula - or a combination of whatever you have on hand)
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, optional
Juice of ½ lemon
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the garlic and continue to sauté until both are golden.

Add the lentils, celery, garlic, and water. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.

Add the potatoes, tomatoes, and curry powder, and seasoning blend, and simmer gently until the potatoes and lentils are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes longer.

Stir in the greens, cilantro, and lemon juice. Adjust the consistency with more water as needed, then season with salt and pepper. Simmer over very low heat for another 5 minutes. Serve at once or if time allows, let stand off the heat for an hour or so, then heat through before serving.