Vegetable and Lentil Soup

Ingredients
1 ¼ cups green lentils
3 stalks celery, with leaves, chopped
2 carrots, peeled, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
400g can diced tomatoes
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp tomato paste
grated parmesan
celery leaves, to serve

Method
1. Wash lentils under running water. Drain well. Place in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil on high heat. Drain, rinse and return lentils to same pan.

2. Cover with 8 cups of water and bring to the boil again on high. Add remaining ingredients, except parmesan.Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer for 1 hr, until the lentils are tender and the soup has thickened slightly.

3. Serve topped with grated parmesan and a few chopped celery leaves, if you like