Smoky Lentil Soup Recipes

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.

Steps:

• In large pot, sauté onion, garlic and celery in olive oil.
• When transparent (not browned) add oregano, cumin, parsley and bacon bits.
• Sauté a bit longer, then add vegetable broth and lentils.
• Stir, then add 2 cups of water (or more broth).
• Bring to boil, then cover and simmer on low heat for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Uncover, add 1 to 2 more cups of water (use your judgment) and add the chipotle Tabasco, salt and Liquid Smoke.
• Cook uncovered over low heat for approximately another 20 to 30 minutes.

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.