Lentil Soup With Fried Onions: Hasa Adas حساء عدس

Hasa adas  is a thick lentil soup flavored with cumin and topped with caramelized onion wings, fried until crisp and extra sweet. The same soup ( sometimes made with dried meat) is poured as a sauce over a layer of toasted Arabic bread to make a warming winter comfort food called fattat adas. 

Serves 4
Ingredients:

2 cups orange lentils (washed and drained)

5 cups water
2 garlic cloves
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 chopped onion
1 chopped tomatoes
1/2 - 1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt


Fried Onions
2 medium onions, chopped into wings
oil for frying


For Topping
Extra cumin
Toasted or fried bread (cut into cubes, or triangles for flat bread)

Wash and drain lentils, wash and cut the carrot, chop tomatoes and onion.

        Put the onion, tomatoes, carrot,  lentils, garlic cloves, salt and cumin in a pot.  

Add about 5 cups of boiling water. Cook, until the lentils become mushy. 

Leave to cool, puree, add boiling water to desired thickness, stir well. 

Chop 2 onions into thin wings, fry in a little olive oil or butter, stirring constantly until dark brown. 

When serving add a squeeze lemon and a sprinkle of cumin to each bowl then top with a tablespoon of fried onions. Place a handful of toasted bread in the soup bowl before ladling on the soup, to turn it into a more filling meal.