Adas bil Hamod, Lebanese Lentil and Chard Soup
Adas bil hamod is the sour lentil soup of Lebanon, thin and lemony where most lentil soups are thick and earthy, brightened with chard and a great deal of lemon juice. The name says it plainly: hamod is sourness, and the dish is defined by acid the way another soup is defined by salt. Brown lentils keep their shape, a little potato thickens the broth, and cilantro and cumin carry the background. Taste and keep adding lemon until it tastes sharp, then add a little more. It is a soup meant to make your mouth water.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Brown lentils, rinsed
- 6 cups Swiss chard, chopped
- 1 whole Potatoes, diced
- 1 whole Yellow onions, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Cumin seed, ground
- 1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 6 tbsp Lemon juice
Method
- Simmer the lentils in 6 cups (1.4 L) water until nearly tender, about 20 minutes. Brown lentils hold their shape rather than collapsing, which is what this soup wants.
- Add the potato and cook until soft, about 12 minutes more. Let a few pieces break down; the dissolving starch is what thickens the broth without any cream or flour.
- Meanwhile, sweat the onion and garlic in a separate pan with a splash of water until soft, stir in the cumin for a minute, then scrape it all into the pot along with the chard. Simmer until the chard wilts, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cilantro and a big pour of lemon juice. Hamod means sour, so keep adding lemon a spoon at a time until the soup tastes genuinely tart and alive. The acid is standing in for salt, so do not be shy with it.
- Mash a little of the soup against the side of the pot if you want it thicker, and serve with extra lemon at the table.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving: 190 calories, 11 g protein, 9 g fiber, 95 mg sodium. Computed from USDA FoodData Central reference values for the main ingredients. This is an approximation, not a laboratory measurement. How these are computed.
Cost per serving is estimated from US national-average retail prices for cheap staple forms, using BLS dried-bean prices and USDA produce prices. Prices vary by store and season, so treat it as a guide, not a receipt. How this is computed.
