Hariraaaaa!

Sweet! So far, I have lost 8kg - thats 20 pounds. Feeling so good, I decided to make soup. Kay, now this is pretty quick soup. Involves canned goods, my favourite hehe. Eat with a great big (well...moderately sized) piece of rolly bready goodness (low GI, of course).

Serves 8, so invite some hungry people round

Harira; Moroccan Lentil and Garbanzo Soup

2 T olive oil
2 onions, sliced
2 normal sized (or 1 huge) can of whole or chopped tomatoes
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1/4 tsp ground cumin
8 threads spanish saffron, crushed (I didn't have this *aw*)
cup of fresh cilantro
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
salt, to taste
black pepper, fresh ground
1 cup dry brown lentils, rinsed and picked over
6 cups water
1 400g can chickpeas, undrained
1 400g can fava beans, undrained
1/2 cup capellini (similar but thinner than spaghetti)
lemon wedges

In a soup pot, heat the oil and brown the onions, stirring until tender (6 mins)
In a blender, combine the tomatoes, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, saffron, cilantro and parsley. Add salt and pepper. Blend until fairly smooth and add to the onions.
Bring to the boil, add lentils and water and reduce the heat to low. Let it cook for 30/35 mins, until the lentils are tender.
Add the 2 cans of beans, along with the juice, and bring back to the boil. Add the pasta, and cook until tender (6-8 mins)
Now, ladle it into bowls and serve with some lemon wedges. And BREAD!!