11 Easy Game Day Party Shortcuts

While we are strong advocates of home cooking, we don’t think there’s anything wrong with using a few store-bought items now and then if it makes entertaining easier. Don’t panic: We’re not going to tell you to fill a store-bought angel food cake with raspberry Jell-O, top it with Cool Whip, and cover it in sweetened coconut and chocolate chips (although, if you want to, we won’t judge). But we do have a few ways to cheat on our recipes if you’re pressed for time at your Sunday football party, because sometimes you actually want to spend your time watching the game.

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Here are 10 store-bought saviors we like to sneak into semi-homemade recipes from time to time, and one indispensable time-saving tool (we bet you can guess what it is):

1. Rotisserie Chicken

Chowhound

Let someone else cook the chicken—and we don’t mean a friend, unless you’re all down for a big game potluck, which is totally an option. The easiest tack if you’re doing it yourself is to simply pick up a rotisserie chicken and shred the meat to use however you please. We have a few ideas: in our Enchiladas Suizas recipe, in our Chicken, Guacamole, and Bean Nachos recipe, in our Chicken Taco Soup recipe (or actual Chicken Tacos), or in our Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe (or, to return to a favorite theme, our Spicy Chicken and Chile Taco Dip recipe.)

2. Frozen Pizza

Slice of HeavenThe Best Frozen Pizzas You Can Order OnlineGetting a good-quality frozen cheese pizza from your nearest Target, Trader Joe’s, Costco, etc. and topping it with fresh vegetables and/or meats is a no-brainer. Try pancetta and peppers or marinated mushrooms and blue cheese to jazz it up.

Then again, if you spring for a truly gourmet frozen pizza—from the likes of Lou Malnati’s or Roberta’s, which, in this glorious age, you can now have delivered straight to your door—you won’t need to do anything to it but heat it up and watch it disappear. Check out our guide to the best frozen pizzas you can have delivered. Actually, you can pretty much order all your game day grub online.

3. Flatbread

Chowhound

Flatbread—from naan to pita—is easy to find in most stores these days, and it makes a great base for high-end ingredients that transform it into a fast, easy appetizer (similar to but distinct from pizza!). Try our Crème Fraîche, Red Onion, and Lox Flatbread recipe or our Chorizo and Olive Flatbread recipe, on your store-bought base, then cut into bite-size pieces and place on a platter where guests can help themselves.

4. Microwave Popcorn

Chowhound

Pick up a no-salt, no-butter microwave popcorn like Newman’s Own, then make a seasoning mixture like the one from our Parmesan and Black Pepper Popcorn recipe, our Black Sesame and Mustard Popcorn recipe, or our Spicy Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn recipe if you’ve got a sweet tooth. Put the popcorn in a bowl after it’s popped and drizzle the mixture over it. Toss and serve. Boom (pop)! Bonus: This fulfills the game day party playbook rule of having something people can eat without needing to look at it, in case they can’t tear their eyes away from the TV screen.

5. Hummus (and Eggplant Dip)

Chowhound

Take a shortcut on our Eggplant and Hummus Pita Crisps by using store-bought hummus and eggplant dip. Or, just buy a good-quality plain hummus and doctor it up with mix-ins, like those in our Easy Chipotle Hummus recipe, or stir in jarred pesto for a quick take on our Spinach and Basil Hummus recipe.

6. Marinated Steak Strips

Chowhound

Pre-marinated steak strips picked up from the meat counter can be seared and wrapped in corn tortillas for steak tacos, steak fajitas, or used to top a steak salad (our recipe calls for a tomato vinaigrette, but you can substitute a dressing of your choice). If you’re not convinced of the quality of your local options, you can always order steak online and toss it in a good store-bought rub the night before.

7. Pre-Cut Vegetables

Chowhound

Hack your dip tray by simply swapping out the foil-lidded goop that comes along with a store-bought veggie platter for a flavorful homemade option like gooey queso, our Slow Cooker French Onion Dip recipe, or our Easy Blue Cheese Dressing recipe. (Or go with your favorite game day grub in dip form!) Lightly steam cauliflower, broccoli, or tiny waxy potatoes and serve them alongside the raw, crunchy stuff to add some variety.

Just choose carefully when you buy pre-cut vegetables—depending on how long they’ve been on the shelf, they can be really dried out. That’s less of a concern if you’re going to cook them (say, if you’re setting up a taco or fajita bar).

8. Frozen Limeade Concentrate

Chowhound

Because you need to have something to drink besides beer. (And maybe you don’t want to mess around with game day wine pairings.) In that case, make a round of Easy Slushy Margaritas by using frozen limeade concentrate instead of freshly squeezed limes. While you’re at it, read up on the history of frozen margaritas and quiz your friends on their origins during halftime. Winner gets a prize (i.e. another margarita).

9. Ice Cream

Chowhound

Sure, you could serve it straight from the tub, but just a little more work nets way more impressive results (just don’t tell anyone how easy it actually was). Our Pistachio-Strawberry Ice Cream Cake looks stunning, for instance, but it’s ridiculously easy to make when you use store-bought ice cream. Ditto our Raspberry Brownie Ice Cream Parfaits recipe. Or you could always set up a football sundae bar.

10. Pre-Cut Melon

Chowhound

While they’re not particularly seasonal, our Booze-Soaked Watermelon Pops are always a hit at parties (and technically count as a healthy game day snack). Use pre-cut melon and soak it in vodka and Chambord, then freeze. It’s a great dessert option if you’re not a baker—but if you are, check out these beer dessert recipes for the occasion. Pineapple chunks and honeydew also take well to the alcohol infusion treatment.

11. Instant Pot

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OK, so this one isn’t an ingredient, but you knew it was going to be in here, and for good reason: The Instant Pot (or whatever pressure cooker you might have) is a perfect tool for making big batches of party food in a fraction of the usual time, from carnitas and queso to chili and cheesecake. With an air fryer attachment, it can even crisp up wings and fries on game day, so put it to good use!

For more super recipes and party tricks and tips, visit our Big Game headquarters.

Related Video: How to Step Up Your Wing Game

This post was originally published by Roxanne Webber in 2008 and has been updated with new links, images, and text.

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Ground Beef Sent to 9 States Is Recalled Due to Contamination

Over 2,000 pounds of raw ground beef has been recalled due to contamination from “clear, thin plastic” according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). 

The affected beef originated at Amity Packing Company Inc. (Illinois) and was potentially sent to retailers in nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Related Reading: Where to Buy Humane & Organic Chicken Online

The specific product being recalled is Pre Brands LLC’s 1-lb vacuum-sealed beef. The beef, which may contain traces of plastic, was produced on January 6, 2020, and labeled 95% lean, 5% fat, with the establishment number “EST. 6916” printed on the packaging, according to photos provided by the USDA.

FSIS

As of this reporting, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reaction from consuming the beef but the recall was announced after two consumers reportedly found clear, thin, pliable plastic in their ground beef. In a statement, the FSIS warned “Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

Related: Salmonella & Foodborne Illnesses Are Spiking: Here’s How to Protect Yourself

For more information on the recall or general food safety visit Ask USDA or send questions via email to MPHotline@usda.gov.

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In Miami, Stone Crabs are King

If you happen to be headed to Miami for a certain big game (or just for vacation), you have to try stone crab claws. Here’s why.

If you were to design the perfect food, what would it look like, what would it taste like, and how would it exist in the world around you? If you contend that there is no such thing as a perfect anything, you still might have to concede Florida stone crabs are very nearly perfect. Perhaps that’s why they’ve helped define Miami’s food culture by way of one special restaurant and a now century-old partnership that’s brought fortune and fame to both.

What’s so special about Florida stone crabs? Besides their firm yet flaky meat that’s sweet to taste, like lobster but not quite so rich, stone crabs are also a little magic.

The Magic of Stone Crabs

The crustaceans are defined by their rock (or stone)-hard claws, black-tipped, plump, and full of the good stuff, but what separates them from their crab cousins is a distinct ability to regenerate said claws quickly and completely, when carefully separated from the carapace (body). Magic.

Stone crabs are hauled in from southern Florida waters by the boatload from October through May to be measured for legal size, declawed, and released to regrow more of the prized pincers. A single crab, with lifespans as long as eight years, can give as many as six or seven meaty claws all while enjoying a full life, interrupted only by the occasional divorce from appendage. A gift from the sea but one that uniquely keeps on giving.

For Floridians and those who seek its warm pleasures, stone crabs are as synonymous with the state as sunshine or college football. For the last several decades, a towering restaurant wrapped in pale yellow stucco and perched on the southern edge of Miami Beach has itself become synonymous with stone crabs.

Joe’s Stone Crab

Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant

Joe’s Stone Crab, or “Joe’s” to any self-respecting local, has earned its rightful place as gold standard in Florida Stone Crab culture. And with its doors having opened officially in 1913, is quite literally older than Miami Beach itself, which incorporated a full two years later.

Originally a lunch counter called Joe’s Diner, the restaurant was first opened by a Hungarian immigrant couple, Joe and Jennie Weiss. It wasn’t until the 1920s when the restaurant found its footing selling previously scoffed-at Stone Crabs. On a whim, Joe started serving them boiled and chilled with lemon and a (now famous) mustard sauce. Folks started coming in and they haven’t stopped for the better part of an astounding 105-year run and just last year Joe’s was ranked the highest-grossing independent restaurant in America by Restaurant Business magazine.

Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant

In 1931, after Joe’s death, his hyper-social son, Jesse, took over and helped cement his father’s legacy in the American food pantheon by courting influentials like J. Edgar Hoover, Gloria Swanson, Damon Runyon, and Al Capone. On any given evening, starlets and politicians could be found rubbing elbows and dipping claws in mustard sauce as cool jazz fought its way through hot Miami air.

The regal dining room with high ceilings and white tablecloths still invokes an era with rolling red Cadillacs and fat cigars and though it has seen an evolution over the years, it’s never been at the expense of its trademark vintage South Beach charm. To this day, during official season, plates of Stone Crab (sold at market prices) stream out of the kitchen with sides like conch fritters and creamed spinach as a perennial line at door grows longer.

Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant

The Cult of Stone Crabs

As the legend of Joe’s grew, so did that of it’s cornerstone offering. Always famous for seafood, stone crab-specific joints began popping up in South Florida and, as October hit and northern air cooled, bands of snowbirds began hopping on trains and in cars from New York and D.C. looking for warm sand and sweet stone crabs to crack.

In 1943, Golden Rule Seafood opened its doors across the bay and south in a slightly more humble digs and has been mostly family-owned ever since. More recent additions to the Miami stone crab scene include Truluck’s, which slings stone crabs in a more upscale setting with pricing to match. For true titans, Truluck’s offers an all-you-can-eat stone crab feast with salad and bread for $79 every Monday, while the more understated Triad’s in Everglade City, a town which claims ownership of the birth of stone crab cuisine, lays out a similarly endless offer.

Many of the restaurants, including Joe’s, now own their own boats and fisheries to keep stone crab supply and quality under careful control. From catch, to cook, and finally to plate, Joe’s claims agency over the product at all times, something they know is becoming more and more important to even casual diners.

Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant

Stone crabs as a species offer a lot but demand a little extra in return too. Brian explains that while a softer blue or Maryland crab might splinter and cut you if not careful, a stone crab will absolutely break your tooth or jaw, so care is encouraged. He’s even recorded a video tutorial on how to crack a Stone Crab here and help out first timers.

Down in Florida, the stone crab craze is hardly a craze at all, if that somehow implies a beginning, furious middle and eventual fizzle, like with drop crotch pants or Cronuts. For stone crab in Florida, the furious middle is all there is and ever has been and it shows no sign of slowing. The’ve even named a local minor league baseball team the Charlotte Stone Crabs, just in case there was any confusion.

Each and every fall, Everglade City marks the start of stone crabbing season with a ceremonial blessing of the fleet that resembles a block party fit with with lively games and music. This past year’s was somber on the heels of a hurricane season which devastated much the region and hammered the fishing industry, but the town went ahead with it anyway; a tribute to the importance of stone crabs to their local livelihood and a true symbol of regional pride.

Back at Joe’s in South Beach, the fervor takes its own unique forms. The restaurant and its staff, many of whom have been working inside the walls for more than 30 or 40 years, brim with a pride all their own at the chance to talk about Joes’ legacy. Their dedication is as much of what makes Joe’s special as the crabs themselves.

Brian tells me stories of devotion to Joe’s from patrons, which quickly reach Victorian levels. “This one guy,” he remembers, “will regularly fly in all the way from Alaska for just a day or two, eat four straight meals at Joe’s, and fly home.” Another long-time regular and former pilot for the now defunct PanAm Airlines, Charles Sharp, has since passed on. Oddly, or so I thought at first, the restaurant has a picture of his gravestone hanging on their wall. Engraved in the stone just below Mr. Sharp’s name and birth/death dates reads one very simple quote, “I’d rather be at Joe’s”.

Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant

Feeling Crabby

The Ultimate Guide to Types of Crab

What Is the Difference Between Crab and Krab?

The Hard-Won Pleasures of a Blue Crab Feast

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The Best CBD-Infused Chocolates and Treats for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is coming in hot. You’re not sure what to get. You’ve done flowers. You’ve done jewelry. And you’ve probably done chocolates too, but this year you want to be cool. You don’t want to be all…uncool.

While THC edibles are still working their way through the legalization process state-by-state, CBD-infused foods have fast become the darling of the natural remedy and homeopathic world. Depending on where you are but in most states, you can get CBD drizzled on or infused into anything from artisan coffee to ice cream and, of course, chocolates!

CBD meWhat Are CBD Foods and Why Are They Everywhere?With none of the psychotropic effects that THC (full force marijuana) impart, CBD (cannabidiol) is reported to deliver mild relief from ailments like anxiety, joint pain, and others and is all-natural to boot. Manufactures from Vermont to California have jumped into the CBD game with chocolates, caramels, hard candies, and even teas.

As Erin Barry, an advocate who works with and sells organic CBD products at Nutty Steph’s in Vermont, told me recently, “herbal supplements are gaining popularity as folks are looking for pharmaceutical alternatives, and our collective society doesn’t seem to be getting healthier from drugs made in a lab.”

There are still some vagaries with what you can legally purchase where, so consult with the retailer and your state’s laws before ordering, but here are a few of our favorite CBD chocolates and sweet treats to give this Valentine’s Day.

Lord Jones Valentine’s Day CBD Gumdrops, $50 on Lord Jones

Lord Jones

Perhaps the prettiest of all the CBD treats on our list these raspberry and passion fruits gummies are just the right combination of sweet and sour with the calming touch of hemp oil.Buy Now

Nutty Steph’s Chocolate Bernie Bars, 12 for $55

Nutty Steph’s

Nutty Steph has been dosing the good people of Montpelier, Vermont for years now with her wild and wonderful CBD and THC chocolate creations (they also happen to be my mom’s favorite). A great deal at just $55 for an entire case, Steph’s will ship anywhere in the U.S., and yes, of course, there’s a tribute bar with Bernie on the wrapper. Join the (CBD) revolution!Buy Now

HighOnLove Chocolate Body Paint, $35

HighOnLove

The only thing your S.O. will love more than eating their high-end CBD chocolate on Valentine’s Day is eating it off of YOU! That’s why HighOnLove (clever) created this saucy and smearable cannabinoid oil-infused chocolate body paint (aka the ultimate ULTIMATE aphrodisiac) in a darling heart-shaped bottle. Buy some now and thank us later. Buy Now

Calivolve Matcha Chocolate Truffles, 4 for $24

Calivolve

These dark chocolate CBD truffles from Calivolve are steeped with organic, raw matcha and 20 mg of CBD in each. The sleek Los Angeles-based company run by two badass weed-whispering ladies uses adaptogens and superfoods in the truffles to help rejuvenate body and mind. The childproof packaging is pretty brilliant, too!Buy Now

Colorado Hemp Honey Chill Sticks, 8 for $6

Mouth.com

So maybe BAE gets down with CBD but not chocolate so much (hey, nobody’s perfect). Colorado-based Made By Hemp has a full line of CBD treats that include these nifty CBD-infused honey chill sticks in a few fun flavors, like mandarin and ginger, all made with 100 percent raw honey and 15 mg of CBD in each stick.Buy Now

AUR Chocolate Bon Bons, 9 for $46

AUR

AUR Chocolate Bon Bons are made in small batches with high quality Trinitario and Criollo cocoa beans, with 10 mg of CBD hemp oil per truffle. With super interesting flavors that include chai tea, vanilla oat milk, and salty coconut, a box of nine bon bons runs $46 and includes 2 day shipping!Buy Now

Cocorau Raw Superfood Cacao Power Bites, 2 for $15

Cocorau

Made with raw cacao from Peru and no sugar or dairy—only raw almonds, cacao, honey, coconut oil, Himalayan salt, and vanilla—these organic CBD bites by Cocorau (New York) will help power your Valentine up while simultaneously soothing aches, pains, and anxiety.Buy Now

Healthy Hemp Oil Chocolate Bars, $24.99

Healthy Hemp Oil

For the classic chocolate bar experience, Healthy Hemp Oil makes theirs with natural and organic ingredients and 60 mg of calming CBD. Available in two flavors: milk chocolate caramel coconut and white chocolate peach hazelnut.Buy Now

Ardent CBD Caramel Infusion Kit, $35

Ardent

For the DIY sugary sweetheart in your life. Ardent Cannabis recently launched a CBD caramel infusion kit just in time for Valentine’s Day. The DIY set pairs perfectly with half a gram of cannabis (choose your favorite strain; THC or CBD). Then drip the sticky stuff over your favorite dessert (or body part) and let the good times roll. It’s $35 for the basic Caramel Infusion Kit and $210 for the proprietary Nova Decarboxlylator, so you can infuse anything you like.Buy Now

Buddha Teas, $19.99 – $69.99

Buddha Teas

If your sweet lovah doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth, might we suggest this water-soluble CBD tea line from Buddha Teas? With blends like Chamomile, Peppermint, Matcha, and Turmeric & Ginger, you’ll be in their mellowed good graces in no time. A bundle of teas runs $69.99, and a single box is $19.99.Buy Now

Tasty Hemp Oil CBD Chocolates, 4 for $28

Healthy Hemp Oil

With four pieces in each box and 10 mg per piece, Tasty Hemp Oil chocolates make a lovely gift in any of their three fab flavors: dark chocolate, dark chocolate mint, or raspberry milk chocolate.Buy Now

Disclaimer: CBD may or may not be legal in your area. Neither Chowhound nor its parent company encourage or endorse any irresponsible behavior or illegal activity. If you choose to use cannabis or CBD products, please do so responsibly and only where permitted by law.

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Air Fryers as Low as $29 During Best Buy’s Flash Sale, Today Only

You might be the last one on the block without an air fryer, but don’t worry; you can soon be the only one on the block to get an air fryer this cheap. Right now, during a one-day flash sale, Best Buy has a whole mess of air fryers on sale including this Insignia 3.4-quart analog air fryer for less than $29.

If you’re not familiar, air fryers have exploded on the scene as a way for making healthier copycat versions of our favorite fried snacks like french fries, onion rings and chicken wings using super convection technology (instead of vats of oil). An air fryer is also good for making crunchy breaded shrimp, crab cakes or crispy vegetable chips for a light snack. 

Oh, and all those tasty frozen apps from Trader Joe’s. Well, guess what? They’re also perfect candidates for the air fryer, cooking up crispy as ever in a fraction of the time and using minimal oil.

Related Reading: What to Do With Your New Air Fryer

No matter what your air fryer needs are—large or small—there’s one on discount today Best Buy and most ship for free by this Friday. Or order any of them online and pick up in-store the same day. 

Insignia 3.4-Quart Analog Air Fryer, $28 on Best Buy

Best Buy

This mid-sized air fryer receives high marks in purchase reviews and can be had for less than a night of takeout. Buy Now

Insignia 3.2-Quart Digital Air Fryer, $38 on Best Buy

Best Buy

The digital menu on this air fryer comes pre-programmed with a selection of cook times and temperatures for some of the most popular air fried foods.Buy Now

Insignia 5-quart digital air fryer, $47 on Best Buy

Best Buy

The digital menu on this air fryer comes pre-programmed with a selection of cook times and temperatures for some of the most popular air fried foods.Buy Now

Bella Pro Series 3.7-Quart Air Fryer, $59.99 on Best Buy

Best Buy

With a 1500-watt heating system, this digital air fryer gets real hot, real fast. It’s simple to program and has a dishwasher-safe basket for easy cleaning.Buy Now

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This Highly-Rated Multi-Function Pressure Cooker Is $40—Today Only

If space is limited in your kitchen, finding tools that serve multiple functions is key. It’s hard to imagine a piece of kitchen cookware that does more than a multi-cooker (I mean it’s right there in the name). And right now, an Insignia 8-quart digital multi-function pressure cooker is currently just $40 (down from $120) as Best Buy’s Deal of the Day.

With all of the functionality of its predecessor, the Instant Pot, this Insignia multi-function cooker can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker and more. The ultimate solution for tender meats and easy weeknight dinners that taste like they took hours, healthy meal planning and even simple, protein-packed breakfast in a pinch. This unit receives extremely high marks in more than 1,000 verified purchase reviews and is down to one of the lowest prices we’ve seen.

Insignia 8-Quart Multi-Function Pressure Cooker, $39.99 on Best Buy

Best Buy

Compare to Instant Pot with all the same features along with high marks in purchase reviews, all for half the price.Buy Now

Speaking of breakfast, Best Buy also has a sharp-looking Cuisinart 12-cup drip coffee maker for just $50, down from $100, for today only. A fun laboratory-like design makes it an eye-catching addition to the counter. Features we love include an easy-fill reservoir, simple digital brew settings and handy brew-pause function for when you desperately need that first cup.

Cuisinart 12-Cup Coffee Maker, $49.99 on Best Buy

Best Buy

This Cuisinart java-maker is definitely a style upgrade and gets high marks in verified purchase reviews on Best Buy.Buy Now

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A Spicy Lentil Soup That’s Vegan and Delicious

The brains behind BOSH!, a YouTube and Facebook channel starring Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, are back once again with a new healthy vegan cookbook, aptly titled “BOSH! Healthy Vegan.” The pair has garnered a huge following online with their healthy and delicious plant-based recipes.

BOSH! Healthy Vegan, $19.38 on Amazon

Buy Now

Related Reading: These Copycat Cinnabon Rolls Are Amazing (and Vegan)

Flip through the pages to discover recipes like Sri Lankan curry tossed with cubes of butternut squash and a bevy of spices; a meaty mushroom pie bound by a smattering of mixed mushrooms and crispy phyllo dough; and banana and chocolate mousse, thickened with oat cream. BOSH! showcases how everyone can eat the rainbow—and we’re not talking vegan junk food that’s infamously jammed with processed carbs.

Mortar and Pestle, $34.98 on Amazon

Buy Now

For a cold weather warm-up, start with Henry and Ian’s spicy lentil soup. The bright orange soup boasts onions, carrots, tomato paste, kale, red lentils, and a slew of spices (think cardamom pods and chile flakes), which is all simmered together until the lentils are soft and tender. Spoon the finished soup into bowls, topped with a dollop of plant-based yogurt and chopped cilantro leaves. That first fiery taste will be more than enough to convince you to add a handful of vegan recipes into your arsenal.

From BOSH! Healthy Vegan by Henry Firth and Ian Theasby. Copyright © 2020 by Henry Firth and Ian Theasby. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Spicy Lentil Soup Recipe

High in protein, fiber, and flavor while being low in fat, this slightly fiery-warming soup is a perfect post-workout meal. Lentils are incredibly good for you as well as being tasty, and they add great texture to dishes; we try to eat them as often as we can.

Spicy Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 1 onion
• 3 carrots (about 12 oz)
• 2 green cardamom pods
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 scant tbsp tomato paste
• ½ tsp chile flakes, plus extra to taste
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp ground cilantro
• 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
• 4 ¼ cups hot water
• 5 oz kale
• 1 lime
• 1 tsp sumac
• Salt and black pepper
• 4 tbsp plant-based yogurt
• Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
• 4 slices whole wheat bread

Instructions

1. Prep the vegetables. Peel and finely dice the onion. Peel and coarsely grate the carrots. Rinse the lentils.
2. Put the cardamom pods in the mortar. Bash them with the pestle to release the seeds, then remove the pod skins and grind the seeds.
3. Heat the olive oil in the soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, for 5-6 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the tomato paste, chile flakes, ground cardamom, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, and 1 tsp black pepper and stir for 1 minute.
4. Add the carrots and lentils and stir for 1 minute to combine and coat. Add the stock and hot water, stir, bring the heat up to a gentle simmer, and cook for 30-35 minutes, stirring regularly, until the lentils are cooked through and tender. Meanwhile, strip the midribs from the kale and thinly slice the leaves, and halve the lime.
5. Add the sumac to the pan, add the juice of the lime, and stir it into the soup. Using a stick blender, blitz the soup until it reaches your desired level of smoothness. Add the kale, fold it into the soup, and simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
6. Taste the soup and season to perfection with salt, pepper, and chile flakes. Serve in bowls, topped with yogurt and cilantro leaves, with whole wheat bread alongside.

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