Thursday, October 10, 2013

Digging in the pantry - Presenting Bacon and Lentil Soup

It's October. I expected cooler weather. I have been deeply disappointed. Truth be told, it's usually a false hope (on my part) because in northern Florida, we don't see cool temps until the third week of October. I'm all about boots and sweaters - guess we live in the wrong part of the country for that, right?

Another thing I like about cool weather is settling down with hearty bowl of soup. We eat soup all summer long, hot temperatures or not, but there is a deep satisfying feeling having a bowl in late Fall.

The Donna Hay theme for week two at I ♥ Cooking Club is From the Pantry.



The only thing I modified was tossing in some shredded carrot and a teeny tiny bit of leftover chicken.

Bacon and Lentil Soup
From Fast Fresh Simple

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 rashers bacon, finely chopped
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
¾ cup red lentils
5 cups chicken stock
Sea salt and cracked black pepper
Finely grated Parmesan and sour cream, to serve

Method

Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Chop the bacon and onion.



Add the oil, onion and bacon and cook for 4 minutes or until lightly browned.
Add the thyme, lentils and stock, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until the lentils start to break down.
Stir in salt and pepper.
Ladle between bowls and top with Parmesan and sour cream to serve.

Stop by next week for a Donna Hay breakfast theme post, here and at I ♥ Cooking Club. Also, can't wait to share my first experience roasting brisket. It was easier than I thought and I have to share this recipe with my daughter-in-law. It's wonderful.

I am sharing this with Beth Fish's Weekend Cooking Series and Kahakai Kitchen for Souper Sunday .

SouperSundaysIHCC Donna Hay Badge resized

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

26 comments:

  1. It's funny ... I have this recipe tagged to make as soon as we have a chilly day and I have some time to make some bread to go with the soup ... yummah!

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  2. This is also one that I have marked to make!

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  3. I have all of these ingredients - maybe I should try this one

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  4. This is the perfect pantry meal, since I usually have all those ingredients on hand. Oh, and I like the addition of carrots for a little color. I'm going to love your adventures with Donna Hay.

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  5. I love a hearty soup in chilly weather and this one sounds delicious. I like your addition of the carrots.

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  6. I was just craving lentil soup! This sounds so easy. Must try. Thanks!

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  7. And I think other than onion I think I have everything to make this. Sounds delicious! And I commiserate--in north Texas we were still in the 90s until last week. Now we've cooled to the high 80s. ;)

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  8. Here is Summer all year long in Singapore... but look at the ingredients, I can imagine this lentil soup taste just nice with homemade bread! I will make it one of these days and forget about the warm weather outside!

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  9. Sounds good! It's beautiful and warm here in Toronto and I am quite happy for it to stay that way.

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  10. Our cooler weather has arrived, for the most part. I've already made soup several times. This recipe sounds like a great one to try soon.

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  11. I adore soup weather! This sounds wonderful but my hubby HATES lentils:( A big pot of soup is on the menu for this week though. Cool weather has finally arrived in Pennsylvania!

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  12. My pantry is such a wreck. I have got to organize!!!, Great improvisation!

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  13. This sounds delicious! I think I have all the ingredients, too.

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  14. This looks so simple and tasty; thanks for sharing.

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  15. Lentil soup is one of my favourite comfort foods, something to do with growing up with my grandmother's dahl I think. Love the bacon in here, which is such a great way of getting in plenty of flavour in a short space of time.

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  16. I've never actually cooked with lentils...

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  17. Bacon, lentils, onion - what is not to like! I love hearty, earthy soups with guts ... so sorry the weather is not playing the game for you. Someone told me that snow is expected here in November *shudder*

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  18. It's hot here too. But I would like to make this when we have some cooler days. Sounds delicious!

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  19. I have made two different lentil soups recently and both were delicious. I can only imagine how good yours is.

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  20. Tina- I'm ready for boots and sweaters too, but unfortunately Kentucky isn't cooperating either! It was darn right hot today. Either way, I've never really been one to eat seasonally. If I'm craving soup then I just go for it. I think your version of Donna's lentil soup looks delicious with the added chicken an carrot. I say toss it all in ;)

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  21. Soup weather is on the horizon here...what am I saying?? I love soup any time of the year. I can't remember if I made this one or not, but I'm thinking there is no reason not to go and make it again. Guys here are a big fan of anything with bacon in it, don't have to call them twice to the table if the word bacon is involved. Your photo is very nice of the soup, I always think it is difficult taking a photo of lentils!

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  22. You know I eat soup in any weather ;-) But, I do admit to getting excited when the weather cools slightly here and it starts to feel more "cozy."

    Lentil soup is one of my favorites. This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week too! ;-)

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  23. I KKNOW! I am so tired of hot weather. Bring on the COLD!! And better soup weather. The soup does sound good and filling.

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  24. Comfort in a bowl! I never can go past a bowl of soup especially one with lentils in it.

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