Spiced Red Lentil and Bacon Soup

This wonderful spiced red lentil and bacon soup certainly has a kick to it! Alongside that there’s a very smokey flavour coming from the bacon and smoked paprika – added to the spices it really balances the flavour out.

It has a pretty smooth texture which comes from a lovely, creamy thickness as a result of the lentils. This soup really is THE PERFECT SOLUTION to warm you up in the colder months!

We’ve been having a shop bought version of this soup for a while now and it’s been a favourite of mine and Dean’s, so I wanted to make my own. Dean was out for the morning and I wanted to surprise him by making it for lunch. He loved it and told me that the homemade version is a million times better than the shop bought one!

The best thing about homemade soups is how simple it is to make and this one is no exception. It’s the first time I’ve used lentils in a soup and it worked really, giving it extra depth and thickness. The soup is not completely smooth but it’s definitely not a chunky soup, somewhere in between.

The lentils give it a really nice creamy texture and it also has magic abilities to keep you feeling fuller for longer. As well my new favourite soup being easy to make and tasting delicious it is also very cheap to make, if you make a big batch you’ll definitely want a second helping!

My parents popped round just as I had finished making the soup, they both said that something smelt amazing and then mum saw the large garlic croutons I’d made to go with it. She then made me well aware that she would like to try some!

I cut them up so we could all have a try and before I could even get the bowls and spoons out they were dipping the large garlic croutons in the saucepan! 😂  They both really loved it, so much so that Dean and I couldn’t get a look in! 😮

Dad said it would make a really good curry sauce with chicken in it and lots of naan bread to mop up the sauce. Then mum proceeded to invite themselves round for a curry! Which is fine by us as we love making them.

TIP: Go easy on seasoning with salt. I was really surprised that I didn’t have to add any more salt at the end, the celery salt worked really well (along with the salty bacon). I’m definitely going to try it in other recipes too.

What’s your favourite soup? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Spiced Red Lentil and Bacon Soup

This spiced red lentil and bacon soup is to DIE FOR! It’s the best soup I’ve ever made so you must give it a go!

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings 3 people

Ingredients

  

• 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 celery stick chopped
• 1 large carrot chopped
• 1 fresh red chilli finely chopped
• 320 g smoked bacon lardons
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp tomato puree
• 1/4 tsp celery salt
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp chilli powder
• 1 lt chicken stock good quality
• 140 g red lentils
• black pepper seasoning

Large french garlic croutons

• 2 tsp butter
• 3 slices of french baguette
• 2 tsp garlic paste
• 1 tsp fresh parsley

Instructions

 

• Add the oil to a frying pan and fry the onions, carrot and celery on a medium heat until the onion starts to go soft. Add the garlic paste and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Add the chopped chilli and stir in. Cook for another 2 minutes then add three quarters of the bacon lardons, cooking until they have a little bit of colour. Now add the tomato purée.
• Add a splash of water to your pan to loosen stop it catching. Then add all the all the spices and celery salt. Stir in to your mixture, adding a little more water if needed.
• Place all of the ingredients into a large saucepan and add the stock, then bring to the boil. Now add your lentils, making sure you have rinsed them in cold water beforehand if need be. Boil them for 10 minutes and then simmer for 15 minutes.
• Using a soup stick blender whizz your soup up until you have a nice consistency. Season with black pepper.
• Bring your soup back up to the boil and then cover. Put it back onto a simmer if you’re going to have it straight away.
• Put about 1tsp of butter in your pan and add the rest of your bacon lardons. Cook until nice and crisp and coloured. While your bacon is cooking add 3 pieces of slices french baguette to your pan and fry them with the bacon, adding another tsp of butter and tsp of garlic paste and turn them. Cook each side until golden. Sprinkle some fresh parsley on top of the baguette slices.
• Sprinkle the crispy bacon on top of your soup and enjoy with your large french baguette garlic croutons.