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French Lentil Bacon Soup Recipe 

French Lentil Bacon Soup Recipe 

Looking for a warm, filling soup? This French Lentil Bacon Soup Recipe  is perfect. It's easy to make and tastes amazing.
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Course Main Dish

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Wooden spoon
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Ladle

Ingredients
  

  • 6 slices bacon chopped
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1½ cups French green lentils
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Put the chopped bacon in your pot.
  • Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.
  • Stir occasionally until it gets crispy.
  • Remove bacon and set aside.
  • Leave some bacon fat in the pot.
  • Add olive oil to the pot.
  • Toss in onion, carrots, and celery.
  • Cook for 5 minutes until soft.
  • Add the minced garlic next.
  • Cook for one more minute.
  • Stir everything well.
  • Pour in the French green lentils.
  • Add your broth, bay leaf, and thyme.
  • Bring everything to a boil.
  • Then reduce heat to low.
  • Let it simmer gently.
  • Cover the pot and cook for 30 minutes.
  • Check if lentils are tender but firm.
  • They shouldn't be mushy or falling apart.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Remove the bay leaf from the soup.
  • Add most of the crispy bacon back.
  • Stir it in gently.
  • Save some bacon for topping.
  • Serve hot in bowls.

Notes

  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils before cooking.
  • Use French green lentils, not red ones.
  • Red lentils get too soft and mushy.
  • Add bacon at the end for texture.
  • Don't overcook or lentils turn to mush.
  • Taste before adding salt since bacon is salty.
  • Let soup rest 10 minutes before serving.
  • The flavors blend together better this way.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge for 4 days.
Keyword French Lentil Bacon Soup Recipe