Lentil soup is one of the favorite soups in the Czech Republic. Lentils symbolize money and that is why people eat them for luck on New Year’s Day. Also, lentils are beneficial for health. It is usually served with rye bread or bread sticks. Being thick it can replace a main course or dinner and will give you just the energy you need.

Ingredients

1/2 lb lentils
2 peeled potatoes
3 middle-sized carrots
4 celery stalks
2 minced garlic cloves
3 Tbs butter
4 hot dogs
4 cups vegetable broth
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 Tbs vinegar (optional)

Roux
2 Tbs butter
4 Tbs  all-purpose flour

Instructions

Before you start cooking the soup or during the process prepare the roux for thickening. Melt the butter, add flour and stir slowly until it gets light brown, add enough cold water cook until roux thickens. Then let sit off the heat.

For the soup, melt the butter in a kettle with a lid, then add diced carrots and celery cook until the vegetables are soft. Add rinsed lentils, and broth, bring it to boil. Cover, let it simmer, meanwhile dice the potatoes and after 15 minutes add potatoes and minced garlic. Cook until everything is soft. Add hot dogs sliced in rounds and thicken the soup with the prepared roux. Stir the soup well and let it simmer for 20 min. Add salt, pepper, and vinegar to taste.

If you do not like sour soups, replace the vinegar with a little more garlic