French Lentil Soup

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 slices thick cut bacon
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium carrot, finely diced
• 1 large shallot, finely diced
• 1 small celery rib, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 5 sprigs thyme
• 3/4 cup french lentils, du puy
• 3/4 cup regular lentils
• 8 cups water (or a mixture of the two) or 8 cups vegetable stock (or a mixture of the two)

Recipe

• 1 cut bacon into matchstick pieces. melt butter in a stockpot, then add bacon. saute over medium heat 4-5 minutes until beginning to crisp.
• 2 add carrots, shallot, celery and garlic, and saute 5 minutes.
• 3 add thyme, lentils and liquid. bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and simmer 35-45 minutes, until lentils are tender.
• 4 remove garlic cloves and thyme stems. if desired, puree part of the soup with an immersion blender to thicken.