Spice things up with soup

SPCICE up mealtimes with some lentil and chorizo soup paired with a glass of the big, bold and generous Place in the Sun Shiraz, brimming with dark fruit and savoury notes and a beguiling touch of pepper.  It is available from the Fairtrade online store, www.fairtrade.org.za as well as most liquor retailers and sells for around R66.

LENTIL AND CHORIZO SOUP

Serves 4

Ingredients

Olive oil

1 tablespoon paprika

3 cloves garlic, minced or finely sliced

1 chorizo, cut into thick slices

1 onion, finely diced

1 large carrot, finely diced

1 or two spears of celery, finely diced

1 can of tomatoes

1,5 litres chicken or beef stock

250g lentils

Handful of chopped mixed fresh herbs (coriander, flat-leaf parsley and chives)

Method

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, paprika and cook until the garlic begins to colour. Do not let it burn.
• Add the chorizo and all the vegetables (except the tomatoes) and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the chorizo to start releasing its oils and the flavours to amalgamate.
• Add the stock, tomatoes and lentils and bring to the boil. Simmer for about an hour, adding water or stock if the pan begins to dry out. Check after 45 minutes for doneness. Wait until the lentils are soft but not mushy before adding salt to taste.
• Serve immediately, topped with the fresh herbs and with crusty bread and the Place in the Sun Shiraz.