21 Comments
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Meant for the Mountains's avatar

Thank you for sharing your story and recipe. Syrian food is my favorite, and I love lentil soups. My mortar and pestle came from Damascus, and I am fortunate to have traveled to many wonderful cities there (before the war).

Emily Beyda's avatar

Oh how incredible! I am so sad to have never been able to visit Syria--maybe some day things will change. Cherish your mortar and pestle!

Sailor Girl's avatar

I took home my Mom's morter and pestle after she passed and this was the first time I used it, unsuccessfully - the pieces went flying. I will probably food process it next time (after I get whole coriander seeds). A keeper recipe.

Emily Beyda's avatar

Oh dear! You can also buy replacement pestles at culinary stores--we had to replace ours after it got dropped on the floor and shattered into a million pieces

Meant for the Mountains's avatar

I use my mortar and pestle primarily for garlic; I mash it with salt and make a paste. The salt absorbs the garlic juice and helps to distribute the flavor through the food.

Emily Beyda's avatar

I do the same! Mortar and pestles are seroriously under rated kitchen tools

Barbara Morrison's avatar

Do you add the lemon juice with the garlic/coriander paste? Or not until serving the soup?

Emily Beyda's avatar

Hey Barbara! I squeeze it on right before serving the soup so everyone can control how much they get, but if you prefer you can add it to the whole pot

Sailor Girl's avatar

I saw this 1.5 hours ago and am now having a cup with pita croutons. Delicious. The only change I made was adding extra coriander because all I had was ground and probably 20 years old.

(I added the lemon juice to the garlic paste.)

Emily Beyda's avatar

Oh yum that makes me so happy! I'm so glad you enjoyed it

Sailor Girl's avatar

Thank you! I bought a container of beautiful red lentils at a Lebanese food shop (Foxhall medical building near American U), just because they were beautiful. Now I am hoping I have some coriander in the spice cabinet.

Emily Beyda's avatar

Glad you did! Hopefully this becomes a staple for you like it is in our house, and you enjoy those beautiful red lentils for years to come

Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

Sounds easy enough, but I had ti look up the difference between red lentils and brown lentils, which I have. Definitely not to use brown but search for red lentils. (I knew the ones I'm familiar with take much to cook.) Thank you also for your story of goings on.

Emily Beyda's avatar

Very true--brown lentils are an entirely different beast! Hope you can track down some red and give the recipe a try, and thank you for reading

Noorillah's avatar

Thank you! I did not know this.

Michelle Jordan's avatar

Sounds delicious 😋

Emily Beyda's avatar

Hope you get to give it a try!

Noorillah's avatar

Oh yummmmmmm! Can hardly wait to try this! Thank you, and may you have many more harmonious moments with your son and baby daughter. (She sleeps! What a great baby!)

Emily Beyda's avatar

Haha isn't she just? Thank you so much for your kind wishes, I truly appreciate it

Lisa Lindstrom's avatar

Yum! Can’t wait to try this. And congratulations to you!

Emily Beyda's avatar

Thank you so much Lisa, I truly appreciate it! Hope you enjoy the soup