That brings us back to those black lentils, which are part of the pea or bean family, but don’t require the same cooking approach as what Sharma calls HTC (hard-to-cook) beans. Lentils take up ...

Cook at a low simmer until the lentils are soft, about 30-40 minutes, be sure to stir a few times. Blend with an immersion blender till puréed. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cook and stir until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add the green lentils and tomato paste and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the vegetable stock. Bring the soup to a boil, cover, and lower ...