Lentil Soup

Steps

1. Rinse the lentils.
2. Heat up a pot and add olive oil, yellow onion, celery, carrots, salt, and ground white pepper.
3. Cook for about 3 minutes until softened.
4. Add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes until the vegetables are soft (5 to 7 minutes).
5. Add the ground cumin and cook for about a minute so it loses its raw flavor.
6. Add the tomato paste and let it cook for one minute to lose its raw flavor.
7. Add the bay leaves, lentils, lots of water, salt, and ground black pepper.
8. Bring this mixture to a boil (it takes about 7 minutes).
9. After boiling, take the cover off the pot so it does not boil over.
10. Reduce the heat to Low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 40 minutes until the lentils are cooked.
11. Start tasting occasionally after 40 minutes and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
12. If using spinach, add it now; if using baby spinach, let it wilt quickly. If using regular spinach, cook it for a minute or two.
13. Add a little bit of vinegar at the end to give it flavor.
14. Remove the bay leaf before serving.