Smokey beluga lentil soup

Just the name beluga makes me think of this soup as luxurious. I love soups, they are so easy and so versatile. They are prefect to freeze and keep as an easy meal mid week or during the weekend for lunch. Also my soups always use what I have handy at home, so I feel its an economical dish to boot. I served this soup warm but you could easily serve it cold too, because of all the spices used in it, it will still pack a punch in flavor. Lentils are a great source of protein, and turmeric is a highly medicinal spice. 

Ingredients needed for 5 large servings: 

3 dl beluga or other brown lentil 

400-500 ml water

1/2 leek

1 tsp smoked paprika powder

1 tsp curcuma powder

1 sweet potato

4-6 shittake mushrooms or button mushrooms 

1/2 courgette 

5 cherry tomatoes 

1-1,5 vegetable stock cube

drizzle of cooking oil 

1. Peel and slice the sweet potato 
2. Rinse the lentils 
3. Chop the courgette into small cubes, slice the mushrooms and leek
4. In a large soup pan add a drizzle of cooking oil and the courgette, shittake and sweet potato. Fry on a low heat for half a minute. Add the curcuma and smoked paprika powder. 
5. Add the lentils, tomatoes, water and crumble the stock cube into the soup.
6. Allow the soup to simmer for 30-40min.