Hearty Lentil Soup with Tagliatelle

Rinse the lentils thoroughly in a sieve under cold water. Soaking is not necessary for this variety. Place the lentils in a medium-sized pot and cover with enough cold water.

Add the bay leaves and whole garlic cloves. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until soft, depending on the desired consistency of the lentils.

Towards the end of the cooking time, add the fresh tagliatelle noodles directly to the soup and cook briefly until al dente. Finally, stir in a dash of extra virgin olive oil.