French Lentil Rice Soup

By Joelene

Ingredients

• 6 cups chicken broth or 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup lentils, picked over and rinsed
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 celery ribs, finely diced
• 3 tablespoons uncooked white rice
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon herbes de provence or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper or 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional) or 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
• 1/4 cup parsley (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

Stir together the broth, lentils, carrots, onion, celery, rice, garlic, herbes de Provence, salt and pepper in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Remove 1 1/2 cups soup and puree in a food blender or with an immersion blender until almost smooth. Stir pureed soup back into the slow cooker.
Divide soup evenly among 4 serving bowls, garnishing each with 1 tablespoon cream and 1 tablespoon chopped parley, if desired.