This Vegan Red Lentil Detox Soup is comforting and nourishing, made with warming spices like turmeric and cayenne!
I am adding this note to the beginning of all my detox recipes. There is no such thing as a “detox”, as the word is used colloquially. The human body naturally removes toxins through the liver, kidneys, digestive system, and other pathways – no juice cleanses required. However, I like to use the word detox in my recipes because of its connotations – starting fresh, eating nutritious food, and helping your body be its healthiest self. I hope you enjoy these recipes!
One of my 2019 was to put in effort to mix things up in the kitchen more. I tend to cook the same thing over and over, always going for flavors and recipes I know I already like. But in doing so, I’ve closed myself off to other foods that I may enjoy just as much! For example, I went to a restaurant in Boston that had a green goddess ranch dressing. I like ranch so I thought it was a safe bet. Turns out the dressing was loaded with dill, and herb I thought I hated! But I ended up loving the dressing, and will even be posting a copycat recipe up here on the blog soon! It just goes to show that you never know when you may stumble upon a new favorite.
Something I’m working on in my life, not just culinarily, is stepping outside of my comfort zone. I currently see a psychologist to work through some of the issues of anxiety I’ve dealt with over the past few years. The reason I’m admitting this online is because there is absolutely ZERO shame in seeing a doctor or therapist for mental health reasons. Sometimes there’s things in life that we can’t handle alone. Seeing a mental health professional can be life changing, as it has been for me.
With my doctor I’ve been working on certain behavioral techniques to reduce stress and mitigate anxiety. In doing so, I’ve learned a lot about myself and the ways I’ve been handling my anxiety. There is a psychological phenomenon called experiential avoidance, which occurs when you avoid doing certain things in fear that you will experience anxiety. Learning about experiential avoidance was eye-opening for me, because I realized I do it all the time. I’ll avoid seeing my friends our leaving the house all the time because of my anxiety. In doing so, I’ve trapped myself in a box that’s becoming increasingly difficult to get out of.
But being aware of the problem is half the battle, and I’ve glad I’ve wised up to my anxious ways. Right now I’m working on stepping out of my comfort zone and doing things that I’m not always 100% comfortable doing. It’s a balance because I’m not going to do things that are flat-out wrong to me. But I am going to push myself to do things that may be a little challenging! It’s a constant work in progress, but I’m happy to be moving in the right direction :)
Vegan Red Lentil Detox Soup
Ingredients
Red Lentil Soup
- 1/2 White Onion diced
- 2 Cloves Garlic minced
- Neutral Vegetable Oil for sauté
- 2 Cups Kale chopped
- 1 Cup Red Lentils
- 2 Cups Vegetable Broth
- 1 Cup Water
- 1/2 Tsp Salt or more to taste
- 1 Tsp Turmeric
- 1/4 Tsp Cayenne
- 1/2 Tsp Paprika
- 1 15 oz Can Diced Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
- Black Pepper to taste
- 1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Toppings
- Fresh Chopped Parsley
- Pumpkin Seeds
Instructions
- Bring a drizzle of neutral vegetable oil (like avocado) to medium heat in a pot. Add in the diced onion, and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until onion is softened.
- Then, add in the garlic, and sauté for another 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Then, add in the kale and sauté for another minute, until kale is softened.
- Then add in all other soup ingredients and stir well until everything is combined.
- Simmer soup for about 15-20 minutes, or until red lentils are completely soft.
- Taste, and adjust seasonings if necessary.
- Serve with fresh parsley and pumpkin seeds, if you’d like.
- Enjoy!
P.S.
If you make this vegan red lentil detox soup and post it on Instagram, be sure to tag me @wellandfull and #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your takes on my recipes :)
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