Lentil Soup

Lentil soup is the year's-end dish of Hungarian cooking – according to tradition, the small grains of lentil symbolise the coming year's abundance and wealth.

1. Rinse the lentils thoroughly in cold water, and pick out any small bits of debris.

2. Sweat the finely chopped onion glassy in the oil, then add the crushed garlic, take it off the heat, and stir in the paprika.

3. Add the lentils, the sliced carrot and the bay leaves, then pour in the water.

4. Over a low heat cook it tender (about 30-40 minutes, depending on the variety of lentil), then finally salt and pepper it to taste.

5. Serve hot.

Tip: Remove the bay leaves before serving – by then they have given their aroma to the soup.