Green Lentil Soup with Curried Brown Butter

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, ghee, or extra-virgin coconut oil

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 
3 cloves garlic, chopped

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 
5 1/2 cups / 1.3 liters good-tasting vegetable broth or water
• 1 1/2 cups / 10.5 oz / 300 g green lentils or green split peas, picked over and rinsed
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1 tablespoon Indian curry powder
• 
1/2 cup / 125 ml coconut milk
• 
Fine-grain sea salt

• 1 bunch fresh chives, minced
• small cubes of pan-fried paneer (optional)