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Sopa de Lentejas — Lentil Soup

Sopa de Lentejas

Lentil Soup

Brown lentils simmer with crisp bacon and its rendered fat, brightened at the end with sweet fried plantain and a handful of cilantro.

65 min
Serves 8
Family RecipeComfort Food
Focus

✦ Antes de Empezar

Before you cook

Are the plantain and carrots essential, or can I leave them out?

Both are marked optional in the recipe. The carrots add a bit more heartiness, and the sweet fried plantain — stirred in during the final 5 minutes — plays off the bacon's smokiness, but the lentil soup is complete without either one.

Ingredientes· 13
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Soup Body

  • 1.5 cupsDried Brown Lentilsrinsed

Meat & Fat

  • 4 stripsBaconchopped
  • 4 ozMexican Chorizocrumbled

The Vegetables

  • 2 mediumCarrotsdiced small
  • 2 mediumYukon Gold Potatoesdiced small
  • 1 ribCelerydiced small

Tomato Broth

  • 1 cupTomato Sauce (or Blended Tomatoes)
  • 1/2 onion + 2 cloves garlicWhite Onion & Garlicchopped
  • 6 cupsChicken Broth
  • 2Dried Bay Leaves
  • 1/4 cupFresh Cilantrochopped
  • to tasteSalt & Pepper

For Serving

  • as neededLimeswedges

Instrucciones

6 pasos
  1. Cocina las lentejas

    Simmer the lentils

    Simmer the lentils in water or broth for 20 minutes.

  2. Dora el tocino

    Crisp the bacon

    Cook the bacon until crisp, then remove some pieces for garnish.

  3. Sofríe en la grasa

    Sauté in the fat

    In the bacon fat, sauté the onion and garlic; add the blended tomato and cook for 8 minutes.

  4. Agrega el sofrito

    Add the sauté

    Add the tomato mixture, carrots, and salt to the lentils. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.

  5. Agrega el plátano

    Add the plantain

    Add the fried plantain during the final 5 minutes and stir in the cilantro at the end.

  6. Sirve

    Serve

    Adjust the liquid and salt and garnish with the reserved bacon.