French Lentil Rice Soup

By keteal

Ingredients

• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup lentils, picked over & rinsed
• 2 medium carrots, peeled, finely diced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, finely diced
• 3 Tbsp uncooked white rice
• 2 Tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp herbes de Provence or dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground white or black pepper
• 1/4 cup heavy or sour cream, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley, divided

Preparation

Step 1

Stir together first 10 ingredients in slow cooker. Cover & cook on low for 8 hrs or 4-5 hrs on high.

Remove 1 1/2 cups soup & puree in food processor or blender until almost smooth. (Use caution when processing hot liquids.) Stir puree soup back into slow cooker.

Divide soup evenly among 4 serving bowls, garnishing each with 1 Tbsp cream and 1 Tbsp chooped parsley, if desired.