Looking for something to keep you warm over these colder winter days? Try this hearty Bacon, Vegetable and Lentil Soup.

Ingredients:

1 tbs olive oil

3 rashers of bacon, fat trimmed and chopped

1 onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

2 sticks of celery, diced

1/2 a medium zucchini, diced

1 small sweet potato, diced

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1/2 a red chilli, finely chopped

2 sprigs of thyme, stems removed

1 x 400g tin of lentils

100g of dried red lentils

1 reduced salt chicken or vegetable stock cube

1L water

1 x 400g tin of cannelloni beans

1 large handful of baby spinach leaves.

Method:

1. Heat olive oil in large pot. Add bacon and fry until caramelised.
2. Add all vegetables, garlic, thyme and chilli and cook for ~10 minutes on low to allow vegetables to soften.
3. Add lentils, stock and water and simmer for 15 minutes until lentils are tender.
4. Add cannellini beans and cook for a further 10 minutes.
5. Add spinach leaves and season with salt and pepper.