Join KindChef Deb to make a French Lentils and Mushroom Soup (based on this recipe from Gimme Some Oven.) After completing your soup, freeze and label it for donation, then drop off at one of our participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or anyplace that you prefer, when convenient. Finally, report on where you shared your KindSoup and spread the word: Post a picture or two of you and your soups on social media with #DoKindWorks and tag us @DoKindWorks.
French Lentils and Mushroom Soup
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 large leeks (white and light green parts only), halved and sliced*
- 6 celery stalks, diced
- 3 pounds baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 15 large cloves garlic
- 2 cups dry white wine
- 24 cups vegetable stock
- 12 sprigs fresh thyme**
- 6 bay leaves
- 6 cups French lentils, rinsed and drained
- 9 large handfuls of baby spinach (or chopped kale or collard greens)
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
* Prepping the leeks: Leeks can often have dirt hiding between their inner layers. So I recommend first trimming off and discarding the dark green parts and the ends of each leek. Then carefully slice the leeks in half lengthwise, slice each half into lots of thin half-moons, transfer the chopped leeks to a strainer and rinse with cold water (while tossing the leeks with your fingers to uncover any dirt), and drain.
**Herb options: I recommend adding in lots and lots of fresh thyme to this recipe. But you could use a few teaspoons (add to taste) of dried thyme instead, if that’s what you have on hand. Or rosemary, tarragon, and/or herbs de Provence seasoning would be delicious in this recipe too.
Instructions
- Sauté the veggies. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, celery, mushrooms, and sauté for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour in the white wine and deglaze the pan by using a wooden spoon to gently lift up any brown bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.
- Simmer. Add in the vegetable stock, thyme and bay leaves and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Add in the lentils and stir to combine. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender, checking back occasionally to stir the soup so that the lentils do not stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Season. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in the spinach and balsamic until the spinach begins to wilt. Then give the soup a taste and season with however much salt, black pepper, and/or extra balsamic you think is needed.
- Serve. Serve the soup warm,* garnished with an extra crack of black pepper (I also sprinkled some microgreens on top of mine), and enjoy!
Health and Safety Information
In order to protect the the quality of our KindSoup program, we ask that volunteers conscientiously observe the following guidelines:
- Start with clean hands and wash again frequently as needed throughout the cooking process.
- Start with clean kitchen surfaces and utensils (antibacterial wipes do a great job).
- Keep longer hair tied back.
- Follow other common sense procedures, such as never returning a tasting spoon to the pot!
Thank you for maintaining a high cleanliness standard for our KindSoup donations!
How to Donate Your KindSoup
Seal containers with a tight lid and freeze. Label each container with: date prepared, your first name and last initial, “French Lentils and Mushroom Soup” and any relevant food allergy info. When convenient, drop containers of frozen soup off at one of the following participating food assistance providers, with a person or family that is in your heart, or a place that you prefer.
- Here2Help @ Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 7611 Clarendon Road, Bethesda. (Go down driveway next to brick house just before the church on Clarendon and look for coolers labeled for soup donations). Drop off Sundays, 10 am-12 noon.
- Rainbow Community Development Center 12120 Tech Road, Silver Spring (this takes you to the rear parking lot and loading dock – there is usually a large RAINBOW truck parked here): Drop-off Monday-Friday 9am-2pm. NOTE: If you go during Rainbow’s food distributions on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 9am-noon, you may see a long line of cars – you can drive past the cars to drop off your KindSoup. If you go at other times and the garage or back door is not open, call or text Anna on her personal cell at 301-852-4184 (if she doesn’t answer, leave a message and she should get back within a few minutes, or try calling the Rainbow Pantry cellphone: 240-639-2293)
- So What Else 4924 Wyaconda Road, Rockville, 240-705-4345. (Look for the Dogtopia. Drive straight past Doptopia to get to our parking lot. The entrance will be on the right hand side as you pull into the parking lot. After you park, walk up to the glass door at the bottom of the black ramp, ring the doorbell, let the team know you’ve arrived to drop off KindSoups): Drop-off Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturdays 7am-12pm.
- Upcounty Consolidation Hub 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown (supporting 1,000 families with food and other supports). Drop off Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays 8 am-4:30 pm.
- Embry Rucker Shelter 11975 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, 703-437-1975. Leave donations on the table around the back. Drop off anytime!
Here are some options for donating outside the DC area:
- NYC Community Fridges located throughout New York City.
- Bread and Roses 58 Newbury St., Lawrence, Mass., 978-681-8768. Drop off Mondays-Thursdays, 10 am-4 pm.
- The Bristol Lodge 27 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass., 781-893-0108. Drop off Mondays-Fridays, 9am-6pm.
- Community Refrigerators located in Los Angeles
See you in the KindSoup kitchen!
Learn more about this KindWorks program
