*For vegans use dairy-free soft ‘cheese’ such as Swedish Soft or Tofutti.
For V for Life’s position statement on vegetarianism and veganism, please click here.
 
          
          
          
            
            Serves: 4
            
            
            Time to prepare:  10 mins
            
            
             Time to cook:  40 mins
            
            Dietary requirements: Halal, Kosher, Vegan (with substitutions)
          
          
          
            
              
            
          
          
          
            Ingredients
            
            
            
              
                - 30ml/2 tbsp vegetable oil
 
              
                - 1 medium potato, peeled and very finely cubed
 
              
                - 450g/1 lb leeks, washed and chopped
 
              
                - 900ml/1½ pints vegetable stock
 
              
                - 20g 3/4 oz red lentils 
 
              
                - 250g/9oz soft cheese with garlic and herbs*
 
              
                - Salt and freshly ground black pepper
 
              
            
            
            
              To serve:
            
            
              
                - 4 slices white bread
 
              
                - 100g/4oz soft cheese with garlic and herbs*
 
              
            
            
            
              To garnish:
            
            
            
            
            
           
          
          
            Instructions
            
              - Heat the oil in a large frying pan and gently cook the potato until tender. Add the leeks, cover the pan and leave to sweat for about 5 minutes.
 - Add the vegetable stock and the lentils, bring to the boil and cook for 20 minutes.
 - Add most of the cream cheese and then blend.
 - Season as required then serve with a little blob of cream cheese and a sprinkle of chopped chives.
 
Serve with crusty bread.
For more great ‘Seasonal and Festive Recipes’, click here.