Improvised Lentil Soup with Bacon & Juniper Berries
Posted By Alison Ashton On February 21, 2011 @ 9:00 am In Beans & Legumes,Fall,Gluten-Free,Nourishing, Fast, Fresh Recipes,Recipes by Season,Soup & Salad,Special Diets,Type of Food,Vegetables & Whole Grains,Winter | No Comments
Several things conspired to make this lentil soup–an overabundance of bacon in the fridge, some leftover juniper berries and a yen for soup on the chilly evening. Lentils and pork are a classic combination, and after consulting Niki Segnit’s The Flavor Thesaurus, I found that juniper berries (which I don’t use often) also have an affinity with pork. Deglazing the pan with a splash of sherry deepens the flavor while the juniper berries lend a bright counterpoint.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup sherry
- 2 cups lentils (brown or green)
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 20 juniper berries, crushed
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- Finely chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Cook bacon in a large saucepan over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and has rendered its fat. Remove bacon from pot with a slotted spoon, leaving the drippings behind. Drain bacon on a paper towel.
Increase heat to medium-high. Add onion, celery and carrot to pot; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add sherry, scrapping bottom to loosen any browned bits. Cook 2 minutes or until sherry is nearly evaporated. Stir in lentils. Add stock, water, thyme and juniper berries; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 1 hour or until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer 2 cups soup to a blender or food processor; puree until smooth (or use an immersion blender to puree part of the soup in the pan). Return to pot. Serve garnished with bacon and parsley.
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