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Smoky Lentil Soup

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Smoky Lentil Soup hits all the right notes. Flavorful and filling for a fall or rainy day.

Smoky Lentil Soup (GF) // One Lovely Life
I feel like shouting “where did January go!?” in a big way. A big, celebratory and incredulous way. Yay! I did it! We did it! We’re still plugging away, and I’m doing my best not to count the days until this quarter of Michael’s program is over. Three days a week (at least) he’s scheduled not to be home until just before bedtime. It makes for some perilously long days. As much as my mama heart wants to feel every minute of those long days that I love this, that it’s worth it, that it’s only for a few weeks, and that I’m so grateful and lucky to be able to be home with my babies… real life and my humanity creep in on a daily basis. I fight exhaustion, curse teething for the umpteenth time, and spend the better part of mornings and afternoons and evenings praying my heart out for patience and more love. I’ve been struggling to find a good balance between therapies, just letting my babies be babies, maintaining structure, and letting go. It’s a dance I’ll be doing for ages, I expect. So long as I’m a mother, which I hope is a very, incredibly long time.

So. What does that have to do with lentil soup?

Smoky Lentil Soup (GF) // One Lovely Life Smoky Lentil Soup (GF) // One Lovely Life
Well, on the food front, at the end of some of the harder/longer days, I’ve just put whatever I know the kids will eat in front of them and stress-eat chocolate chips in the pantry while they’re not looking. Those days have happened more than I’d like to admit lately, so I’ve been falling back on slow, easy favorites and low-maintenance dishes I can make ahead or without much constant effort.

This is a recipe that feels like home. My house amidst chaos can feel warm and full. It smells like comfort, and, in its simplicity, tastes just like soup should. It’s full of flavor, relies on simple, whole ingredients, and gets better with time. I put babies to bed, and dice vegetables–something that doesn’t require much energy or attention. The methodic prep work is calming, and, in the absence of someone pulling on my leg or a diaper to be changed, I connect to the sizzle of the bacon in the pan as it pops away, and my house fills with the smell of vegetables.  While it simmers, I pick up toys or watch a bit of a show, or let my mind melt browsing Pinterest. I tuck it into the refrigerator before bed, and let the flavors marry overnight. I go to bed knowing that in the chaos of the next afternoon, I can pull out my pot and slowly heat it. Soon, the steamy, dreamy smell of soup fills the air, and my kitchen and I know that at least one thing will be very right today. 

It just feels like home.



Smoky Lentil Soup (GF) // One Lovely Life

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Smoky Lentil Soup (gf, df)


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Description

I prefer nitrate free bacon (Applegate Farms is my favorite, but Hormel Naturals or Trader Joe’s uncured are also lovely). These brands are all gluten free, but if you use something else and need to be GF, do be sure to double-check your labels.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 24 slices bacon, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 lb lentils (I bought brown lentils)
  • 2 quarts vegetable broth*
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, brown bacon. Drain fat as desired, but don’t scrub the pot. Add a small drizzle of olive oil to the pan and heat over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery to the pan with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until tender. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute longer. Add lentils and vegetable broth to the pot.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer soup 30 minutes-1 hour, or until lentils are tender (if your lentils are a bit older, you may need to simmer longer). Taste and add additional salt or pepper, as desired.

Notes

*If you’re GF, be positive you’re using GF broth. I like Pacific Foods brand, but Imagine Organic is also a safe choice. Naturally, homemade veggie broth should be completely safe.

 

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8 Comments

  1. I love lentils and my new husband loves them too so this definitely will be a win! I wish I had a pot of it simmering right now to make me not hate this freezing cold weather…

  2. This is one of my favorites and IS dad’s favorite. It’s yummy on a cold winters eve, even when you haven’t been chasing babies all day!

  3. The soup looks amazing, but the bread looks even better. I miss good crusty bread. Is it one you’ve made or bought?

  4. I know all too well about our hearts getting pulled in a million different directions with the little ones. I have a 4 year old, a 2.5 year old and our 3rd is due in May. I also work part-time, but once babe #3 is born I plan to stay home. Just wanted you to know that you aren’t alone! My husband is a cop and works 2nd shift so I know what it is like to have no help come dinner, bath and bedtime. I also enjoy my “me time” once they are in bed, I unwind, prep dinners, watch TV, read or just lounge. All us mothers need it! And by the way, this soup sounds fabulous:)

  5. Holy hannah montana. I had to stop mid bite and come tell you how delicious this soup is! Thank you so much for the recipe! I only buy lentils out of wanting to be healthy. I never suspected they could be something I would choose over something else. Now they are.

  6. I was looking for a good legume soup recipe & chose yours. Sounds ‘delish’. Thank you.

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