Cauldron's Collation

Friday 25 February 2011

Soup: Luscious Lentil Luxuries

Brrrrrr as Spring isn't quite here yet! We wanted a lovely warming & filling lunch but as usual it had to be a quickie. So, what else could it be but lentil & bacon soup!!  Also because I'd made some gorgeous mixed seed brown bread yesterday which would be delicious with the rich, tasty luxurious soup.


Ingredients
Butter
Garlic (bout 3 cloves)
Onion
Carrots
Chilli
Lentils (bout 200g)
Salt & Pepper

Method
  • Add knob of butter to saucepan
  • Peel, top & tail garlic cloves & add to melted butter

  • Top, tail & peel Onion. Half, slice & dice into small pieces then add to melted butter & garlic
  • Top, peel & prepare the carrots, Slice into strips then dice into small pieces. Add to garlic & onion


  • Remove rind from rashers of bacon. With a pair of scissors cut the bacon into small strips
  • Move ingredients over to one side in the saucepan, creating a space
  •  Add the strips straight into this space in the saucepan to saute, mixing & turning continuously




  • Top. tail & de-seed the chilli, flatten, slice into thin strips & dice into tiny pieces then add into saucepan & saute along with all ingredients 



  • Add lid, mix gently together and continue to saute all ingredients
  • Add lentils into a large sieve
  • Rinse lentils thoroughly in fresh cold water 
  • Once rinsed add lentils into saucepan
  • Mix gently into the ingredients and saute stirring continuously for few mins

  • Remove from heat whilst making the stock
  • Quick stock, add ham stock cube & swirl of tomato puree into bottom of jug
  • Add boiling water into jug, stir until all dissolved then add stock into saucepan



  • Stir in the stock, add to flame & keep stirring continuously until soup comes to the boil
  • Allow to cook for half an hour or so, if you have time keep stirring or if not add lid, reduce heat & allow to thicken & flavours merge
  • When ready, stir & serve with crusty brown bread. This soup is a delicious, thick, rich most flavoursome lunch time luxury, Nicely filling without being too heavy





Mmmmmmm enjoy!!
  • Funnily enough, I dislike tinned Lentil Soup or cartoned but homemade lentil soup I absolutely love, not sure if its the chilli, the bacon . . or just the purity but the flavours are simply gorgeous. 

2 comments:

  1. Ohhh what a lovely earthy soup!!! It is still so warm here, but as soon as winter comes, I am going to try this!!! I used to eat a lot of lentils and beans soups back in Italy... I miss it! Thanks for sharing another great recipe!!!

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  2. That looks spectacular! Now I'm craving soup... lol!

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