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Hearty lentil and bacon soup recipe

Hearty lentil and bacon soup recipe

358 ratings

This wonderful, comforting soup is packed with smoky bacon and creamy red lentils. Enjoy with a thick slice of wholemeal bread for a warming winter meal. See method

  • Serves 4
  • 5 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook
  • 230 calories / serving
  • Freezable

Ingredients

  • 6 rashers smoked back bacon, rind trimmed off
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery sticks, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 150g red lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 400g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 1 litre (1 3/4pints) vegetable stock
  • crusty bread, to serve
If you don't have red lentils, you can try using green lentils instead

Each serving contains

  • Energy

    970kj
    230kcal     12%

  • Fat

    6g 8%

  • Saturates

    1g 7%

  • Sugars

    10g 11%

  • Salt

    3g 51%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 32.8g Protein 14.1g Fibre 3.5g

Method

  1. Cut the trimmed bacon into 2cm pieces. Put the olive oil in a large saucepan set over a low-medium heat and add the bacon, onion, carrot and celery. Cook gently for 10 minutes, until soft and sweet. Stir in the garlic and cook for 5 minutes more.
  2. Add the red lentils, followed by the tinned tomatoes and stock. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat slightly. Cover with a lid and leave the soup to simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are very soft and the soup has thickened. If it looks too thick or starts to catch on the base, add a little water. Season to taste, remembering the bacon and stock are already quite salty. At this stage you can liquidise the soup, if you like, or leave it chunky.
  3. Serve with crusty bread.

Cook's tip: For a tasty garnish, reserve some of the chopped bacon. Fry in a little oil until crispy and then sprinkle on top of each bowlful.

Freezing and defrosting guidelines

Make the soup, then leave to cool at room temperature. Freeze (without garnishes or toppings) in a rigid container, leaving a bit of space for expansion, for up to 1-3 months. Reheat either from frozen or defrost in the fridge overnight. Once piping hot, add toppings or garnishes and serve.

See more Soup recipes

For top tips on protecting you and your family when preparing raw meat and poultry, visit Food Safety in the Home.

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