Spicy Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 large stalk celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 1/2 cups dry lentils

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Stir in carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until vegetables are tender, about 8 more minutes.

Stir in tomato paste, crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper; mix in chicken stock and lentils.

Bring soup to a boil and reduce heat to low; simmer until lentils are soft, about 20 minutes.