This soup is idiot-proof, cheap, and easy. It's good for students [like me!] because it takes three hours to cook and lasts forever in the freezer, which is good if you are on a budget. Plus, it's vegan.
When I was littler, my family and I lived on Government St, near Chinatown, and my mama would give the street people who lived below our building [our condo was above a hair salon] containers of this soup and hot toast. It's warm, filling, and delicious.
In a large pot, add:
2/3 cup dried lentils
4 cups of water
1 onion, chopped fine
4 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery,chopped
Then, simmer it for three hours. Do not forget about your soup. Set your timer.
Sometime, your soup will get a little too thick, like more of a thick stew than a thick soup. Add some more water until it reaches whatever you consider to be a soup.
Then, add:
1 cup tomato paste [or two of those tiny cans]
garlic
thyme
tarragon
Voila. Your soup is finished. Serve with bread; my mama makes amazing focaccia to serve with this.
