Lentil and Bacon Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 bacon hock whole or 6 rashers smoked streaky bacon, diced
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 200g red lentils
• 400g chopped tomatoes (canned or fresh)
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Crusty bread, to serve

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add the bacon, onion and carrots and cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes, or until the bacon has started to turn golden and the vegetables have softened.

2. Add the lentils to the pan and stir well. Add the chopped tomatoes and 1.5 litres boiling water, and stir in stock cube. Bring to the boil, cover, and then simmer the soup gently for about 1 hour, or until the lentils and vegetables are tender.

3. Remove the pan from the heat and leave the soup to cool slightly. Purée the soup with the parsley, and add seasoning to taste. If the soup is too thick, a little extra boiling water can be added.

4. Reheat the soup, removing the bacon hock if one was used. Serve with crusty bread.