Deception Pass Curried Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons mild curry paste
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 cubes vegetable bouillon
• 1/2 pound lentils
• 3 cups water, more if needed
• 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 pinch ground black pepper to taste (optional)

Directions

Heat olive oil and curry paste in a large pot over medium heat; cook and stir onion, carrot, celery, red bell pepper, and red pepper flakes until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Break the bouillon cubes into onion mixture; add lentils and stir.

Pour enough water into the pot, so the water line is 1 inch above the lentil and onion mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until lentils are fully cooked, about 40 minutes. Stir spaghetti sauce into the soup and simmer 5 minutes. Stir cilantro and black pepper into soup right before serving.