My Favorite Bacon Lentil Soup

Excuse the smudges on my lovely red soup bowl but I had to take this photo two seconds before I devoured this homemade dish. This is my favorite bacon lentil soup - all made from scratch. It's easy and oh so yummy.

We are all busy. Some of us have jobs outside the house, some of us work from home. We also may be on irregular schedules, so I know how it feels to come home exhausted and not knowing where to start or what to cook. Over the years that I worked irregular hours at a hotel in Switzerland I learned to make quick, easy and delicious dishes. My favorite of all was always a lentil soup - during fall of course.

Here 's what you need:

- green lentils {1 1/2 cups, soaked and rinsed}
- bacon strips {as many as you'd like, I used five, cut in big chunks}
- red onion {either half, or one whole one cut in cubes}
- chicken broth {3 to 4 cups}
- water {1 cup, or to taste}
- cumin {1 teaspoon}
- salt & pepper to taste
- parsley {1/4 cup or less or more}

Here's what you do:

- soak the lentils for at least one hour {some prefer to soak them overnight or for five hours}
- in a pan, brown the bacon and then set aside
- in the same pan, add onions for about five minutes
- add the lentils, and chicken broth and bring to a boil
- then cover and let simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes
- add the bacon either at the end of those 25 to 30 minutes or after 15 minutes
- add salt, pepper, cumin and parsley and stir and let it all sink in for about 5 more minutes

Dish is ready when you are.
It's very easy.

One thing though, make sure you soak the lentils for a long while. Some prefer not to do this and just wash them thoroughly but well, when I did it that way, let's just say lentils love to create air bubbles in your belly and it may get really really bad around you. :) Be warned.

xoxo