Lentil Soup With Bacon

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 8 ounces smoked bacon, chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1/2 head cabbage, diced
• 1 celery rib, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried savory
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seed, ground
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 8 -10 cups beef broth or 8 -10 cups stock
• 1 cup lentils
• salt
• pepper
• 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt

Recipe

• 1 in a large soup pot or saucepan cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat.
• 2 stir in vegetables and herbs (next 9 ingredients or onions - caraway) and reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook until vegetables are tender (20 minutes).
• 3 stir in tomato paste, paprika and chili powder and stir 3 minutes before adding the 8 cups of broth or stock.simmer for 1 hour.
• 4 stir in lentils, covering pot partially and simmer for 2 3/4 hours, stirring frequently and adding more broth to pot if needed.
• 5 season with salt and pepper. add more chili powder if desired and cook for another 15 minutes.(see note in description).
• 6 ladle into bowls and top with yogurt or sour cream.