Lazy Lentil Soup

It's not so much the lentils that are lazy, as me.  Ordinarily, you'd put lentils in water in the morning to soak during the day so that they would be ready to cook with at tea time, but if you decide on soup at the last minute, concessions have to be made.  Not only is this soup simplicity itself, it is also healthy, hearty and cheap to make.  Don't be put off by the long list of ingredients, they're all things that regularly lurk in your fridge or cupboard.


Ingredients
1 onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 large carrot, finely diced
1 stick cellery, finely diced
1 large potato, cut into small cubes
5 rashers short cut bacon, chopped
1 tin lentils
1 tin crushed tomatoes
1 cup small pasta suitable for soup

1 litre mushroom or vegetable stock

olive oil


Method
In a large saucepan, heat some olive oil and fry the vegetables and bacon on low heat until onion is translucent, bacon is cooked, and vegetables are softened. 

Add the tin of tomatoes, the lentils and the stock.  Bring to the boil.  When all ingredients are fully cooked, add the pasta.  Continue cooking until pasta is cooked.

To serve, top with a drizzle of olive oil and parmesan cheese.  Serve with crusty bread.

Serves 4

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en