Lentil Soup for breakfast?

Even the name is off putting - lentil soup. And the idea of soup for breakfast is just as unappealing and for a long time I resisted soup for breakfast. However, breakfast soup is very popular here and cafes open very early just to serve soup to those on their way to work (no time to linger over a cappuccino and french toast here!). Eventually tiring of eggs, salad and bread, I finally gave the soup a crack and now I ALWAYS have lentil soup for breakfast.


Lentil soup has the same consistency as split pea soup and actually is a very easy and healthy breakfast food (think of it as a sort of hot vegetable smoothie).

Here is a simple recipe. 

Ingredients:
2 cups orange lentils
4 cups water
1/2 tablespoon salt or 1 chicken bouillon cube
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
One finely chopped onion
 You can add a little curry powder or cumin for variation

 

 1. Wash lentils.
 2. Fill pot with lentils and water, pepper and salt, onion.
 3. Bring to a rapid boil.
 4. Cover, reduce heat to simmer.
 5. Cook 20-25 min until thick and yellow.

At the Motel Mad, the soup is prepared by Alar, a Syrian Kurdish refugee, who, as well as making breakfast, cleans the rooms and  tends the gardens.He teaches me Kurdish words and I teach him the English equivalent. Kurdish soups and stews are often very salty but Alar keeps the salt content well down (I did see one guy shake salt into his soup for a good minute).

Normally Alar smiles a lot but I think he wanted to look 'professional' in the photo. He is the only one working in his family and supports his mother and two sisters who live in a camp outside of the city.