Warm Lentil Soup With Pancetta Recipes

Steps:

• Add wheat berries to a large saucepan; cover with water--2 inches above berries.
• Bring to a boil; remove pan from heat.
• Cover and let stand 1 hour.
• Drain well; return wheat berries to pan.
• Cover again with water--2 inches above berries.
• Bring to a boil; lower heat and cook, partially covered, over medium-low heat for 45 minutes or until tender; drain and set aside.
• In a large pan, add 7 cups water and lentils; bring to a boil; partially cover pan, lower heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Add in pancetta, simmer 10 minutes or until lentils are tender.
• Drain lentil mixture over a bowl and reserve cooking liquid.
• Heat oil in a big Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
• Add in onion, carrot, and celery; stir/saute for 8 minutes.
• Add in Swiss chard; stir/saute for 5 minutes.
• Add in reserved cooking liquid, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil.
• Stir in wheat berries and lentil mixture; cook 1 minute or until well heated.

Steps:

• Peel the onions and chop them finely, cook them over medium to low heat with a little olive oil, the sliced garlic, and the diced bacon. It should all be golden and fragrant. Chop the parsley and stir it in.
• Wash the lentils thoroughly, then stir them into the onions and bacon. Pour over the stock or water and bring to a boil, skimming off any froth that comes to the surface. You can add a bay leaf or two if you like. Decrease the heat so that the lentils simmer merrily, then almost cover the pot with a lid and leave until they are tender but far from collapse-about thirty minutes, depending on your lentils.
• Wash the spinach thoroughly and tear it up a bit. While it is still wet and dripping, put it into a shallow pan over high heat and shut the lid tightly-you need to cook it in its own steam. After a minute or two it will be limp and bright emerald green. Lift it out, squeeze it dry, then divide it among four warm bowls.
• Season the soup with salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and the torn mint leaves, tasting as you go. Ladle the hot soup on top of the spinach and serve with more lemon and mint for those who want it.