Lentil and bean soup

Something warm is needed for a chilly and rather miserable February day… so maybe this soup from Burundi would be just the thing, and not expensive either!

Burundi, or more correctly the Republic of Burundi. ia an African country which has had a sad and troubled past, mostly exacerbated by European interference. The peoples of this country, known during a difficult period ruled by the Belgians was Ruanda-Burundi, include the Hutu, the Tutsi and the Twa. After centuries as an independent kingdom, the country was colonised by the Germans until  the Belgians became the rulers after the 1st World war. Since  gaining independence in 1962 this country has been devastated by different conflicts and wars, and as a result many of its people seem peace by escaping to other countries.

This warming soup is very traditional and I’m sure each Burundian has their own version… here is one recipe which I found:

• equal quantities of carrots, onions, sweet potato/squash, diced into equal sized pieces
• same  quantity of green beans (runner, French, string, etc) and cabbage,  thinly sliced
• same quantity (or more if you like) of lentils, red, grey or brown
• 1 pint of vegetable stock (plus more if you need, and according to how you like your soup)
• oil, seasoning

1. gently fry the onions until they are transparent, add the lentils, stirring so they are coated in the oily onions
2. add the stock and simmer for about 20 mins
3. add the carrots and sweet potato/squash and cook until nearly soft
4. add the cabbage and green beans and cook to the tenderness you prefer (if you like one more crunchy than the other put them in separately and cook to your liking)
5. check seasoning (you may want to add more salt depending on how salty your stock was)
6. serve with a good few grinds of black pepper and bread of your choice