Smoky Lentil Soup Food

SMOKY LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a soup pot, cook the bacon crisp. Remove, crumble & set aside for garnish.
• Add the onions & garlic, cooking until slightly soft and fragrant (3-5 minutes). Add the cumin & chili flakes, cooking for 30 seconds. Stir in the lentils. Add stock & bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer until lentils soften and soup starts to thicken (25-30 minutes).
• Add salt & pepper. You may need to add a bit of extra stock or water, at this point, to thin out the soup if it's needed.
• Serve garnished with fresh parsley & crumbled bacon if desired.

SMOKY RED-LENTIL SOUP WITH CHEDDAR TOASTS

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is golden brown, about 6 minutes. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from pot (if your bacon renders less fat, add enough olive oil to bring total to 2 tablespoons), then add onion and carrots to bacon and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until onion is softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Add lentils and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add water, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pot, then reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, covered, until lentils are very tender, 15 to 25 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper.
• Preheat broiler. Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet or broiler pan and spread top of each slice with butter. Broil slices 6 inches from heat until pale golden, about 1 minute. Spread buttered sides with a thin layer of mustard, then top each toast with 2 slices of cheese and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 1 minute.
• Serve soup with Cheddar toasts.

SMOKY BACON AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Cook lentils in 1-1/2 qt. (6 cups) water and salt in medium stockpot 30 min.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir bacon in small skillet on medium heat until crisp. Add wieners; simmer on medium-low heat 5 min. Drain.
• Blend water, tomatoes, onion, garlic and bouillon in blender until smooth. Add to lentil mixture; stir. Bring to boil; simmer on medium-low heat 10 min. Add bacon mixture; stir. Simmer 15 min.
• Beat egg lightly with whisk. Gradually stir into soup; cook 1 min., stirring constantly.

1-HOUR SMOKY HAM AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a stock pot, combine lentils, ham, water and base/bouillon and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients; simmer until veggies are tender, about 20 minutes.
• If you wish to puree: remove 3 cups of lentils, broth and veggies (keep diced ham in soup pot); puree, return to soup and stir.
• For the crockpot: place all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on LOW for about 10 hours; follow step #4 prior to serving.

SMOKY LENTIL STEW WITH LEEKS AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Rinse lentils. Put them in a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed pot and add 8 cups water. Pin a bay leaf to each onion half using a whole clove and add to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, add a large pinch of salt, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook with lid ajar for about 30 minutes, until soft. Turn off heat.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to boil, and cook the potato slices until just done, about 10 minutes, then drain and spread out on a baking sheet to cool.
• Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is wavy, add leeks and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Let leeks cook briskly, stirring frequently until soft but still bright green, about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn heat to medium, stir in chopped garlic, thyme, pimentón and cayenne.
• Add saffron and soaking water, the chopped tomato and vinegar. Turn heat to high and let everything simmer for a few minutes. Pour contents of skillet into Dutch oven with lentils. Add the reserved potatoes.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook covered with lid ajar for about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then cook for 10 more minutes. The lentils will be quite soft and the potatoes will start to break. Discard onion and thyme sprig.
• Finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley, if you wish.

SMOKED BACON AND LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large soup pot and fry the bacon until the fat begins to run.
• Add carrots, onion, celery and cook over high heat and stirring as needed until the edges of the vegetables begin to brown.
• Add lentils, tomatoes, garlic and stock.
• When this comes to a boil, put the lid on and reduce heat, allowing to simmer as gently as possible.
• Simmer for 45 minutes, then add the cabbage.
• Cook an additional 15 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.
• Stir in parsley, and serve immediately.