There comes a time in every food blogger’s life when she starts to experience serious blender envy. It started for me a few months ago, when I was cursing my cheap blender for its utter uselessness. I decided it was about time for a fancy blender of my own. So I contacted Blendtec (makers of the finest fancy blenders) and they kindly offered to help this poor food blogger out.
Not only did Blendtec send me the most gorgeous of all fancy blenders—the designer series—but they also agreed to let me give one away to one lucky reader! I wish I could pull an Oprah and give everyone a blender, but this is the best I can do.
This new blender works like a charm, guys. So far I’ve used it to make this ultra-creamy vegan soup (more on the soup in a minute), as well as coconut butter, hazelnut butter, cashew milk and avocado salsa verde.
I made the coconut butter first and the blender blew me away. What took me 15 minutes with my hand-me-down KitchenAid food processor took less than 45 seconds with this new blender, and I didn’t have to stop and scrape down the sides once. I just might retire the old food processor in favor of my new blender. I get giddy thinking about all the homemade pesto, hummus and nut butter we will make together.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of these new blenders is that they don’t have any knobs to catch drips (I’m messy) or look cluttered on the counter (I hate clutter). Thanks to a digital touch interface, the blender looks like a beautifully ambiguous machine when it’s not in use. It’s so easy to wipe clean with a damp rag. It’s also made in the USA and built to last, and the jars are made with BPA-free plastic.
My dear future blender winner, I should warn you that you may have trouble deciding which color to get. Champagne like mine, black, cream red? I deliberated on the choice for a while. I wanted a color that would coordinate well not only with my current tiny, dishwasher-less, crooked-cabineted kitchen, but also with my spacious and bright, white-subway-tile-backsplash-with-a-giant-dishwasher dream kitchen. Champagne seemed like a nice, neutral color and I think it will look dreamy in my future kitchen.
But maybe you already have a fancy blender. Maybe you want to hear about some soup you can make with it! I came across this one when I was flipping through Martha Stewart Living’s latest cookbook, Meatless. The cookbook is full of creative, easy vegetarian dishes that are right up my alley. I couldn’t decide what to cook first, but the title of this spicy, hearty soup captured my attention with the words “dried cherries” in the title. I adore tart dried cherries and the idea of incorporating them in a savory soup intrigued me. At first bite, I thought it was a bit of a funny combination, but after the flavors had a chance to meld, I really loved the addition.
Out of curiosity (read: I can’t stop playing with my new blender), I decided to try puréeing a bowl of soup after making it according to the cookbook’s directions. Though it produced a lusciously creamy bisque, my taste tester and I agreed that it was better when it retained some of the distinct textures and flavors of the ingredients. Bottom line: strain out some of the vegetables before pouring the rest in your blender as stated in the recipe below. It’s worth the extra trouble and the soup comes together quickly regardless.
PrintCurried Red Lentil Soup with Dried Cherries and Cilantro
- Author: Cookie and Kate
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: Indian
Spicy vegan soup with bold Indian flavors, including curry powder and coconut milk. Fresh cilantro and tart cherries round out this hearty soup. This soup’s flavor depends on your selected curry powder, so choose one you love! Serve with a side of whole wheat naan, if you’d like.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 piece (about 2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped (¼ cup)
- 2 large carrots, peeled and finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- ¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk (reduced fat or regular), divided
- 5 cups water
- 1 cup dried red lentils, picked over and rinsed
- ⅓ cup coarsely chopped tart dried cherries or cranberries
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro stems, plus 3 tablespoons cilantro leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a medium Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped ginger, garlic, shallot and carrots. Sprinkle a dash of the salt over the vegetables and cook until softened, stirring often, about 7 minutes.
- Add curry powder and cook, stirring continuously, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the rest of the salt, ½ cup of the coconut milk, the water and lentils, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until lentils and carrots are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Pass 2 cups of soup through a fine sieve into a bowl to separate the solids from the liquids. Reserve the solids for later and return the strained liquid to the pot of soup.
- Let the soup cool slightly, then puree the soup in a blender until smooth. You may need to do this in batches as you do not want to fill the blender jar more than halfway. If necessary, reheat soup after blending, then stir in the reserved solids.
- Reserve some cherries for garnish and stir the remaining into the soup, along with the cilantro stems. Ladle soup into 4 bowls and swirl in remaining ¼ cup coconut milk (1 tablespoon coconut milk per bowl). Garnish with cherries and cilantro leaves. This soup is great with a side of lightly toasted whole wheat naan.
Notes
- Recipe lightly adapted from Meatless: More Than 200 of the Very Best Vegetarian Recipes from Martha Stewart Living.
- On using a Blendtec blender for this recipe: my wildside jar was large enough to accommodate all of the soup that I needed to blend. I used the soup preset, which warmed up the soup as it blended it. So convenient!
- The recipe suggested to serve the soup immediately, but I preferred the next day’s reheated leftovers.
▸ Nutrition Information
UPDATE 2/14: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Heather for winning the Blendtec blender!
Now then, about that giveaway! One lucky winner will receive each of the following:
- One Blendtec Designer Series Blender with Wildside Jar
- One Twister Jar with spatula (shown above left, $119 value): great for nut butters, hard-to-blend mixtures and small batches.
You have three chances to enter:
- For one entry, leave a comment on this post to tell me what you would make with this blender.
- For one entry, follow cookieandkate via ANY of the following options and leave one comment to let me know: facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram, google plus, RSS or receive blog posts by email. (If you already follow cookieandkate via any of those listed, that counts! Just leave one comment to tell me, and thank you for following. Please note that this option only counts as ONE entry even if you follow on multiple sites.)
- For one entry, subscribe to Blendtec’s weekly blog email newsletter and leave a comment to let me know.
Note that you must leave a separate comment for each potential entry. You will find the comment form at the bottom of this post.
The fine print: This giveaway is open to US residents only from Tuesday, February 5, 2013 until Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 11:59 pm CST. One winner will be selected using random.org and contacted via email. Winner will have 72 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Entrants must submit a valid email address in order to be eligible to win. Entry email addresses will not be shared with any third parties. Maximum 3 entries per person.
Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by Blendtec. Blendtec sent me a blender to review and keep. Opinions expressed are my own, always. Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post and I’d be much obliged if you used them. Thank you.
Lisa
Did all 3 entries & hope I win it!
Left comment, fb follower & subscribed 2 blendtec
Kate
I would make date cashew bars!
Kareen
I am following you on Twitter as i_amEatingRight
Kate
and I’m also following you on FB!
Katherine Parker
I love your ideas,creativity and art. My family and I are blessed by you!
With a nice blender we would make many smoothies for our three year old to get some liquids in her (she doesn’t like beverages too much). Smoothies, yes!
Also, as a midwesterner at heart, soups are a must, even in hot Houston!
Lisa
Green smoothies!!
Brian M
I would make the carrot soup recipe in Modernist Cuisine at Home.
Brian M
Also, just liked you page on facebook! I hope I win
Jennica
I am following you on Facebook.
Jennica
I am subscribed to blendteks email.
Jennica
I would make baby food, smoothies, soups, hummis… and a lot more!
Kay
I’ve been making the same lentil soup for years–this makes such a nice change. Love the coconut milk. Your photos are beautiful!
Kay
I subscribed to the blendtec weekly blog update!
Kay
I am subscribed to Cookie and Kate email posts.
Zoe Alexander
I have to say it is important to have the right gadgets in the kitchen! It make someone’s life so much easier and faster! For a long time I’ve been looking for an excellent blender. However, such a pity the jar itself is in plastic! I’m a great believer that food & plastic should stay way apart, BPA free or not! Beautiful presentation and mouthwatering recipe!
Zoe xxx
siszyn
I want to make banana chocolate smoothies!
tamara
Can’t wait to try your Curied red lentil soup and hopefully win a wildside or twister jar.
Allison
Initially I would say smoothies, but I’m not interested in trying some soups too!
Allison
I’ve been following via RSS/google reader :)
Karen D
First, I would love to make almond butter with the Twister jar!
Karen D
Karen Goodwin Delaney follows cookieandkate on facebook, @kdff follows on twitter
Karen D
I subscribe to Blendtec’s email newsletter
Jenn Wilkinson
I would make smoothies galore, nut butters, soups, Mmm so may possibilities :)
Jenn Wilkinson
I like on FB and I get your emails love your recipes!!!
Jenn Wilkinson
I subscribed to blendec.
Janelle
I would make my own nut butters, nut/coconut flours, sauces, soups….just about everything!
Kate
We will probably not make any smoothies, but we definitely will make a full array of creamy vegetarian soups, many pestos and middle eastern dips. With a blender that can actually do its job I am sure we will start making nut butters.
chely
So many possibilities!!! I think I would start with either almond butter or butternut squash soup.
chely
I “like” c & k on facebook!
Hayley
I would make a delicious and smooth smoothie in the blender – even though it is winter!
Hayley
I follow your blog on google reader!
Suzy
I signed up for the blendtec newsletter!
Talia
WIth the bright and shiny red Blendtec blender I would make delicious smoothies and vegetable soups!
lauren
I would make my delicious curried butternut squash soup, the recipe that I’ve been trying to make work with my poor worn out blender…only I have a feeling it would turn it much better with a blendtec! :)
lauren
I liked your facebok page! Also reminded me that I tried your butternut squash chipotle chili and loved it! Thanks!
Robert Byram
It would always be handy to make some luscious fruit smoothies as an afternoon snack for my kids. But it would also give me a new excuse to explore some new soup recipes like this one. And that twister jar looks intriguing.
Diane
I would definitely have try making my own nut butters!
Diane
Following Cookieandkate on Facebook!
Diane
I’m subscribed to Blended’s newsletter
Ann
I receive blog posts by e-mail.
K boulder
Green smoothies!
K boulder
Just followed you on twitter!
Deb
I just found your blog and I think I’m in love (so clearly you’re a new addition to my RSS feed)!
lauren
Subscribed to blendtec’s mailing list!
Marisa @ Margaritas
Smoothies for sure!
Marisa
I follow your RSS feed.
Kalimar Maia
I’ve had only an immersion blender for the last 3 years and as much as I love it, it just doesn’t do the job for soup. I too love the blendtec and would use it for soup and smoothies. Yum!
Kalimar Maia
Hi Kate, I subscribed to the blendtec weekly newsletter. Say hi to Cookie!
Leah
I’d be making some mango lassis!
Leah
Following you on twitter!
Kelly
I’d use it to make another batch of vegan meyer lemon curd. I just made my first batch with my old blender, and needless to say it didn’t quite do the job of making the cashews silky & smooth (although I must admit it tastes DELICIOUS!).
Kate Scalzi
It is always a good day when I get an email from you!
Can’t wait to try this soup!!!
Kate Scalzi
With this blender, I would make this soup, some smoothies, tomato sauce…
Taylor M.
Umm I would make everything with this blender! I love having smoothies everyday and making creamy soups would be so much easier!
Taylor M.
I like Cookie + Kate on Facebook!
Taylor M.
I am subscribed to Blendtec’s emails.
Heather
Walnut milk. I’m afraid our current blender will die of exhaustion if I try it in there. He is a sad blender.
Heather
Following on Facebook, among other places.
Crystal
I would make the craziest green smoothie ever, except I wouldn’t have chunks of kale floating around because of my cheap-o blender ;)
Plus I’m already a cookie and kate facebook follower :)
Adrianne Vasey
Thanks Kate for the opportunity to win! Like you, I would love to make so many things in the Blendtec blender. Predominately, though, I think it would be smoothies, puréed soups, pesto, hummus and salsa. Yum!!
Adrianne V
Also, I receive your blog posts via email!
Adrianne V
And now I’ve subscribed to the Blendtec blog newsletter too!! Keeping my fingers crossed…
Sue Kershnar
This blender would make short work of the cold curried zucchini soup that is a summer staple in our house :)
Sue Kershnar
Follow you on FB
Sue Kershnar
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Blendtec Inc.
1206 S 1680 W
Orem, Utah 84058
jennifer Mc
The Blendtec would make our families favorite summer crab gazpacho recipe a breeze. Like the curried red lentil soup, it takes better with only half the recipe pureed. All the home grown tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers…I’m salivating.
Doreen
I would make a walnut feta cheese dip. And many many more things and definitely the curried red lentil soup recipe. Thanks for the blog, I love it.
Clare Mitchell
Loved this recipe! Umm, umm, umm. What I would make in my new blender is lots of soups, but especially hummus. The big prices they get for a small amount is just too much. It’s one of my favorite foods. A Lebanese man told me that is developed to feed the starving and is definitely not considered thought of in the way that we Americans do. I try all kinds with all kids of beans. It’ soooo healthy! Perhaps you could do some creative recipes of it? Hint, hint.
Clare
Molly
Ohhhh….so many fun things I could make!
Lily
I know blender envy all too well. I would use a blender for your avocado chimichuri recipe that I became totally addicted to last summer. It would also further my morning smoothie addiction and experimentation.
Lily
Great to know you’re on Facebook, and I just followed you. Should have done that a while ago!
Lindsay
Oh, how I’ve been wanting one of these blenders! Pick me, please!
Caroline
I would make soups, soups and more soups!
(I have also followed you on Facebook.)
Louise
Smoothies first and learn from there. I would love to win!
Elsa
I’ve wanted one of these forever! I’d make nut butter and banana ice-cream first, and then try this soup
Elsa
just subscribed to subscribed to the Blendtec blog newsletter, and liked you on facebook. fingers crossed!
Sarah Goodman
Hello,
I subscribed to the blendtec email list! I am hopeful, I have never had a blender but love to cook! I’m a grad student and really like your blog, Ive recently been trying the alcoholic drink recipes.
Sarah
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1206 S 1680 W
Orem, Utah 84058
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Sarah Goodman
here is my second entry!
With this blender we would make hummus, alcoholic drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, dips, soups, etc.
Sarah Goodman
Here’s my third entry, I “liked” you on facebook!
Sarah
Victoria Pedrick
Since I love lentils, coconut milk, and curry, I gotta love this recipe! Many thanks–
Vicki
Kimber
I too have a crappy old blender and would love to graduate.
I would make lots of things in it and but mostly morning smoothies for the kids.
Thanks for the red lentil recipe too :)
Lauren
Oooh, pick me, pick me! :) I have so many things I’d like to make – green smoothies, hummus, soups, and nut butters – just to name a few!
John Sarbacker
I would love this blender to make yummy soups and smoothies!
Look forward to trying this recipe
Lauren M
Would love, love, love to win the best blender e v e r!!
It would be the center piece of my counter…never ever
A dust collector. I would venture into endless food frontiers
never gone before!! Even my pug Rocky would have a
New treat or two!! I’ve watched some of the inventor’s unique
You tube videos and watched him on a TV special… Been
a-mazed Ever since! What an excellent machine. Everyone
at home would just have to get used to my sudden urges to
push the buttons Or flip the switch morning, Noon & night!
Lol thanks for sharing this
Lauren M
…all confirmed on the Blendtec Blog and on Pinterest which is a
Favorite of mine!!! Thanks again
Debbie
I just subscribed to your newsletter. I found your site through your curried red lentil soup recipe and looked around your site at some of your amazing recipes and looking forward to keeping up with your blogs! Also would love to have an entry in the Blendtec giveaway.
marlies
i would make so many smoothies! my current blender can’t really handle kale…
marlies
following you on pinterest!
marlies
subscribed to the blendtec blog :)
Debbie
If I had a Blendtec I would make lots of blended soups, smoothies and hummus. Roasted red pepper would be my first soup to make in it.
Pat
The first thing I would make is your beautiful curried red lentil soup.
terry justison
everyone could use a really great blender like blendtec. my husband and i have a smoothie for breakfast everyday. this blender would be so used every day. just found you via ziplist and love your instructions
terry justison
subscribed to blendtec blog, so all ready to start using it!
Vivian
I’d be making green smoothies, nut betters (homemade nutella!), and pina coladas. I bet this would be great for frozen bananas to make banana ice cream with too.
Vivian
Just followed you on pinterest!
Brigette
I would make THIS soup….yum!!!
Brigette
And now I’m following you on Pinterest. Thanks!
Nancy Corazzi
I would make raw hummus and brown rice flour
Nancy Corazzi
I liked your Facebook page
Nancy Corazzi
I subscribed to your newsletter