French-Style Lentil Soup with Spinach

This stuff is great! I mixed up some French herbs, lentils, and leftover veggies and this is what I got. I bet it would be great with some hot, crusty bread.

In case you were wondering Herbes d'Provence is a French blend of herbs and spices. It usually contains marjoram, thyme, rosemary, savory, fennel seeds, sage, and sometimes lavender. Lavender doesn't really appear in true French versions, but rather in American mixes. Mine had lavender in it though, and I thought it added a wonderful touch.  


Here's a simple DIY Herbes d'Provence:

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon chervil
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon summer savory
1 teaspoon lavender
1 teaspoon tarragon
1 teaspoon marjoram
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon mint

Prepartion:
Mix together all of the ingredients and store in a tightly sealed container. Makes about 1/3 cup herb mix.

This spice blend can be used for Mediterranean recipes. You can also mix it with some olive to coat vegetables for roasting OR, you can add it to some hearty lentil soup! 

French-Style Lentil Soup with Spinach:

1 c. Vegi Soup Mix (Bob's Red Mill)
4 c. water
1 tsp. Herbes d'Provence
1/2 tsp. oregano
A few shakes dill weed
1 vegan bouillon cube (with sea salt)
1 c. crushed tomatoes, drained
8 oz. fresh baby spinach, washed


1. Rinse and pick through lentil soup mix. Add water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Add herbs and bouillon cube. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes.


2. Add drained tomatoes and let simmer another 15 minutes.

3. Add spinach and let cook 1-2 minutes or until just wilted.


Voila! Beautiful soup!