Lentil carrot potato spinach soup

It is always a task to make sure that the kids eat their vegetables. I am always trying to incorporate different vegetables together to see what combination tastes good and is healthy too. I decided to combine spinach and lentil with potato and carrots, and I am sharing the recipe. The main flavor in the recipe comes from lentil, carrots and spinach. You can use any type of lentil but I find that the green lentil either whole or split version goes well with spinach. I was happy with the soup that had lentil, greens and vegetables. If you desire you can add more vegetables to this combination. I think corn will go well and add creamy taste, other types of greens is an option as well.

Ingredients:
1 bunch washed, chopped fresh organic spinach leaves
2-3 washed, peeled fresh carrots
1-2 washed potatoes
1/2 cup any lentil (I used whole green lentil-mung dal, it goes well with spinach)
1-2 green chillies
1/2 medium onion finely chopped
2-3 chopped garlic cloves

Condiments
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chilly powder
Salt to taste
1 ladle full of Oil for tempering

Recipe

1. First add chopped vegetables to the pressure  cooker. If you do not have pressure cooker, you can cook in slow cooker, microwave or on gas.

2. Add lentil to the vegetables, add between 1-2 cups of water to the cooker. Gauze to see if you need more water and adjust the water quantity accordingly. This may also change depending on the amount of lentil you use. (If enough water is not used, scalding and bursting of the cooker may occur.) Cook for about 4 whistles (15-20 mins)

3. In the mean time lets prepare the tempering. Preheat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let it splutter.

4. Now add chopped garlic and turmeric powder. Garlic goes well with spinach.

5. When garlic has turned golden brown add onions. saute the onions.

6. By this time the spinach and lentil are ready. Open the pressure cooker, let out the steam, cool down for few minutes. Blend the veggies and the lentil in the blender to obtain smooth puree.  
**(If you do not have a pressure cooker,boil the veggies on stove till soft covered in a pan OR microwave them. The goal is to obtain cooked veggies whatever method works for you.)**

(Tip: If you blend the spinach raw leaves before cooking the spinach puree is coarse.)

7. Transfer the puree to the tempering. Mix and heat for 5-10 minutes so that the spices are evenly blended with the vegetables and lentils.

8. Serve the warm, wholesome, healthy soup topped with butter!!! Enjoy with fresh warm Rotis or rice and that is a complete meal with veggies, lentil, rice and bread.