Glenda's Winter Lentil Soup
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
10 mins
-
Cook Time
37 mins
-
Servings
4
-
Course
Main Course, Lunch
-
Cuisine
British
Glenda's Winter Lentil Soup
Description
This soup features red lentils cooked with diced bacon, softened onions, carrots, parsnips, and sliced leeks. The bacon is fried first for smoky depth, then removed while the aromatics are sweated in rendered fat. Vegetables and reserved bacon are combined in the pot, along with lentils, tomato puree, and stock to create a nourishing soup.
Simmering the soup until lentils and vegetables are tender produces a creamy, thick texture. Stirring in fresh orange juice adds subtle acidity and brightness to balance the savory notes. Garnishing with parsley or cheese adds freshness or richness depending on preference.
The soup suits cold weather meals with its filling ingredients and warming spices. Bacon can be omitted for a vegetarian version without sacrificing the lentils’ hearty character. This recipe makes a wholesome, comforting dish with balanced flavors and textures suitable for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 2 carrot
- 1 parsnip large
- 2 leek washed
- 4 streaky bacon rinded, rashers
- 3 tbsp neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 8 oz red lentils 225 g
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 chicken stock or vegetable stock, 1.1 litres
- orange juice of a large
- salt freshly ground
- black pepper freshly ground
- parsley chopped; or grated cheese
Instructions
- Peel and finely chop onion.
- Peel and chop carrots.
- Peel parsnip and cut into chunks.
- Trim and slice leeks.
- Finely chop bacon.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a deep pan and fry bacon until browned.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.
- Add onion to pan and gently fry over low heat to soften. Reserve with bacon.
- Heat remaining oil, add carrots, parsnips and leeks and stir for 2 mins. Return bacon and onion to pan and add lentils.
- Stir in tomato puree and stock.
- Bring to the boil then simmer covered for 25 mins or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
- Stir in orange juice and season.
- Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley or grated cheese (or both).
Notes
- Omit the bacon to make this soup vegetarian without affecting the core lentil and vegetable flavors significantly.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
