Yes you read that correctly…BACON!
Hey friends and happy Wednesday!
It is such a glorious time of year! Summer is winding down, it’s not scorching hot, summer evenings are just picturesque and perfect, and by golly, we’ve got great people to share it with!
Speaking of great people, I recently had a special person in my life have a root canal. NO FUN – right? Especially when you have to recover alone…cue the violins.
So I thought it would be a great idea to deliver a batch of easy-on-the-teeth, and punchy on the taste buds soup!
And so I made, what I’d like to believe, is not only the most delicious lentil soup — because hey…it uses BACON! But also, the most rustically fabulous soup this side of the Mississippi!
And quick note: one of the things that makes this soup so delicious is that it uses FRENCH lentils! These are green lentils that hold onto their bite after cooking. The red and brown lentils, admittedly, become a bit mushy after you cook them, but these french lentils remain firm! So it’s a really great texture for soup. So make the extra effort to locate some French green lentils if you can! (You can buy them on Amazon here!)
And speaking of lentils, I love them, because not only are they Specific Carb Diet friendly, but they are really affordable, healthy, and a plant based source of protein! A win, win, win, win!
Here’s what you need! (Makes 6 servings)
3 slices of bacon, chopped small
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large, yellow onion, small dice
2 stalks celery, small dice
2 medium carrots, small dice
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5 oz can diced san marzano (or Italian) tomatoes (splurge and get the good, authentic brand!)
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup French green lentils
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Garnish:
Chopped fresh parsley
freshly grated parmesan cheese
bread on the side!
Tools:
Immersion Blender ((Or blender/food processor!))
Large stock pot
Good chef’s knife
Wooden spoon
Measuring cups and spoons
Directions:
First, fry the bacon in a large stock pot over medium heat until the fat is rendered. Stir frequently for about 4-5 minutes until the backon is crisp.
Then, add the olive oil, onions, celery, carrots and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent, about 5-6 minutes – stirring every not and then.
Add the tomatoes, broth, lentils, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover partially, turn down the heat and simmer until the lentils are tender — about 45 to 50 minutes.
After the lentils are tender, remove the bay leaves, and with an emersion blender, partially puree the soup until the broth is slightly thickened, but you still have integrity to the vegetables and lentils. You can also do this by adding 2 or 3 cups of the soup to a regular blender or food processor, and blending until smooth, and then stir that in to the rest of the soup. Just be careful, as it is a hot hot liquid! ((I used a food processor.))
Serve with grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley as a garnish, along side a crusty roll!
Wow, wow, wow! This soup was outrageous!
If you think lentil soup is a humble supper, think again! This is so inviting, and hearty, and cozy, and you won’t believe it’s super healthy!
This soup packs a punch, nutritionally. It’s got fiber and protein, and lots of vitamins and minerals.
But the taste is phenomenal. There’s a smoky meatiness from the bacon, and an earthy, herby groundedness from the french lentils and the thyme.
But the texture is wonderful. It thickens as it sits, and yet the lentils still have a bite to them — they’re not like the mushy lentil soup you may have originally thought of when you saw the title of the post. No sir.
And the best part is that it gets better with time! The longer it sits in the fridge, the more the ingredients have time to “marry!” And the thicker it gets.
So make this soup. It’s awesome to have on hand for a quick lunch or fast and easy dinner.
Your tastebuds, wallet, and body will thank you!
Talk to ya tomorrow!
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
A huge shoutout to Reason Nutrition Beverage! Their all-natural, high calorie drink is not only delicious, but it has no “garbage” in it! Utilizing the wholesome goodness of coconut oil, it’s a phenomenal option for those needing to gain weight in recovery, or for those simply looking to supplement their diet with convenient and fast nutrition. Check them out!
A big thank you to my foundational sponsor, BetterHelp Online Therapy. I cannot begin to express how beneficial therapy was for my recovery from anorexia. Speak with an online therapist. Or check out content about eating disorders from BetterHelp.
***THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ORDERED MY BOOKS, BLOOM: A JOURNAL BY BEAUTYBEYONDBONES AND “MY BLOGGING TIPS“***Click to order your copy!
SIGN UP BELOW FOR MY FREE NEWSLETTER!
GET MY DAILY VIDEOS, RECIPES AND POSTS DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX!
[mc4wp_form id=”30616″]
Here was yesterday’s video! https://youtu.be/8pmp4ZI968A
MAGIC TOOTHPASTE? Yes! I am in love with this superior whitening toothpaste. It keeps my smile sparkling, without sensitivity or bleach! I made a website where you can directly order this miracle product! So if you want to give it a try, you can go ahead and grab a tube for yourself. I promise, your smile will thank you!Get a tube!
Be sure to check out my affiliate, Audible. Listening to audiobooks while I cook is literally my new favorite thing. And just for you, they’re offering a Free 30-Day Trial Membership. And with this free membership, you’re going to get 2 free audiobooks! Literally. Free. It is the best deal ever. And if for some reason, you decide it’s not for you, you can cancel within those 30 days and it’s zero money out of your pocket, plus, you get to keep the 2 audiobooks. Soooo…it’s pretty much a no brainer. Plus, it’s a free and easy way to support this blog! So thank you!!
Huge shoutout to my favorite: Ethos Spa Skin and Laser Center in Summit, New Jersey! Located just outside of NYC, this gorgeous medical spa keeps my skin healthy and bright! Stop in and treat yo’self! 🙂
STAY CONNECTED!
@beauty.beyond.bones – Instagram
For Podcast versions of my posts, please check out Patreon! It’s only $2 a month!! You make this blog possible 🙂
And really quickly, I’ve had several questions concerning my Amazon link (amazon.com/shop/beautybeyondbones) — You do not need to buy one of my specific highlighted products on my page, in order for it to “credit” my account. Any purchases that you search or make from anywhere on Amazon, after first visiting my Amazon page, will credit this blog and help support this blog ministry. I am truly so grateful and appreciative to those of you wanting to do so! So thank you! Again, it is an absolutely free, and easy way for you to help keep this blog going!
52 responses to “Bacon French Lentil Soup!”
You had me at bacon! I’ll be making this recipe once I return home. Thanks.
Hahah thank you so much HJ! Hope you enjoy! Hugs and love xox
I wanted to be the first commenter but then, I still made it here early! That dish looks yummy! I hope you are having a great week Caralyn! Lots of love.
Haha oh my gosh you’re too funny! Thanks Temiloluwa! You too my friend! Hugs and love xox
This looks delicious. My wife makes a great lentil stew. We’ve never tried French lentils so we’ll have to pick some up. Take care.
Thank you so much! Yes! They are quite nice with their firm bite! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
This soup looks delicious! You gals look so cute in the photo. 😊
Thanks so much John! Aww thanks 🙂 that’s my bestie! Hugs and love xox
Love it! Especially when I saw it had bacon and lots of yummy Parmesan.
Thank you so much Veronica! Oh yes those are the best parts! Hehe Hugs and love xox
Lentils are full of nutrients and this recipe sounds delicious. I’ll add this to my favorites
You’re so right about that Alice! They really are! A superfood! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
Hope it tastes as nice as it sounds & looks 😋
Thanks Kenneth! Oh I promise it DID!! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
Looks delicious!!! Need to try it 🙂
Thanks so much Kejt! I hope you do! Hugs and love xox
This recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Hugs and love xox
That looks delish! Lentils are so hearty and full of flavor. 🙂
Thank you so much! You’re absolutely right about that! They’re so good for you! Hugs and love xox
Yummy! Will try this for lunch tomorrow. Soups are honestly the best because you get to pack so many veggies and nutrition in a bowl. Thanks for this recipe!!
Thanks Bianca! Yes! I hope you love it as much as I did! Hugs and love xox
Replacing an original root canal is not a lot of fun either specially with an infection underneath. Lentil soup with veges is awesome.
Oh gosh that sounds so painful!! Yikes!! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
It was a two hour job 🙂
Oh my goodness!!
My sweet little sister in Jesus your post had me at Bacon. lol
I have to admit I did not know there were different kinds of lentils. I did buy a can of lentil soup-organic- today. 🙂
Hahaha thank you so much! Yes! The French green lentils are , in my humble opinion…superior! Haha heyyy that sounds great!! Hugs and love xox
love the lentil simplicity, the how of this soup applies in so many ways… and this does look great! french lentils? who knew?
Thanks David! Yes! There’s something so simple and wholesome about that little lentil! And yet so much protein and goodness! Hugs and love xox
Looks lovely, great pictures. Will have to give it a go this weekend. Thanks for inspiration.
Thank you so much! I hope you love it as much as I did! Hugs and love xox
The dish looks inviting. Not a bad idea to try in Nigeria.
Thanks Faith! Oh it was so inviting! Hope you enjoy! Hugs and love xox
My pleasure.🥰
🥰🥰🥰
My mom just asked me to make lentil soup, and I was going to make one my go-to recipes, but this looks like a delicious alternative (I love bacon). I will definitely give it a try.
Oh thanks Madeline! What perfect timing! I hope you enjoy this as much as your go-to! The bacon really gives it a beautiful depth! Hugs and love xox
what a great friend you are to make such a meal for them…
Thank you so much Jim! Haha cooking is my love language! Hugs and love xox
it’s a language I never bothered to learn… 🙂
Haha never too late to start!! 🙂 the Food Network is a great place to start 😉
I’ve probably watched a total of five minutes of the Food Network since it was first launched- it’s just something I have little interest in. I know it’s hard to imagine! 🙂
Hahaha it’s worth it for the inspiration!
🙂
🙂
I’ve never been a big fan of lentils, but this sounds amazing! Thank you! As soon as we get paid, I need to buy some French lentils!
Thanks So much! Yeah it was a real treat! The French lentils are what make it!! Hugs and love xox
Gonna try this on first rainy day. Looks fabulous!
Thanks Teresa! Hope you love it. Hugs and love xox
That looks so yummy.
thank you! it was!! Hugs and love xox