Ingredients for 6 servings:
1. 2 tablespoons butter
2. 2 onions, chopped
3. 1 celery rib, chopped
4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
6. 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
7. 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper (or more to taste)
8. 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
9. 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
10. 1 pinch saffron (large pinch, crumbled)
11. 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, pureed
12. 1 cup brown lentils
13. 1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, drained
14. 4 cups vegetable broth
15. 1/4 cup vermicelli, broken (or orzo or other small pasta)
16. 2 tablespoons flour
17. 1/2 cup fresh parsley
18. 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
19. 1/4 cup lemon juice

Directions:
1. In large heavy saucepan or dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery and cook, covered, for 7-10 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally.
2. Add cinnamon, turmeric, salt, pepper, ginger, hot pepper sauce and saffron. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and broth. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 40 minutes or until lentils are tender.
3. Stir in noodles and simmer, covered, about 7 minutes longer or until noddles are just tender. In bowl, whisk flour, and 1 cup water until smooth. Whisk flour mixture into soup and simmer, stirring often, for 2-4 minutes or until soup is thickened and no raw flour taste remains.
4. Stir in half of the parsley and cilantro, and all of the lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding up to 1/2 tsp more salt if needed. Garnish with remaining parsley and cilantro.