Simmering

Purpose

Cook lentils gently until tender while allowing a soup broth to thicken slightly.

Controls

Fakes brings lentils, tomatoes, aromatics, and liquid to a boil, then simmers gently for 35–45 min, uncovered or partly covered. Add water only if a looser texture is needed.

Process

1. Bring the assembled soup to a boil.
2. Reduce to a gentle simmer and stir occasionally.
3. Stop when lentils are tender and broth has thickened slightly.

Failure Modes

Symptom	Likely cause	Corrective action
Hard lentils or thin broth	The simmer stopped before the texture endpoint	Continue gentle cooking and reassess tenderness and liquid.