Scottish lentil and bacon soup

A Scottish bowl of comfort soup, using up ingredients that I always have in the house. You can tweak to whatever you've got. The joy of soups is they're AWESOME for using up whatever is kicking about. Delish scran and no waste!

Great

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Peel those tatties. Doesn't matter what kind. I used whatever ones I have from the farm up the road. Roosters this time. Chop your tatties, shallots and carrots. Cut up the bacon into good chunks. I use cooking bacon because it's cheap and cheerful. Prep is done! Get yourself your favourite BIG pot. Give it a wee skoosh of oil spray. Alternatively, if you're not watching your calories - a dirty great big knob of butter. Heat up your pan on a high ish heat. Chuck in those shallots!

Step 2

Once your shallots are fryed off a wee bit, add your garlic. I used powder because I had no fresh left. Use what you want. Give it a good shoogle round the pan. Yeet your bacon into there and get all that delicious piggy fat sizzling!

Step 3

Add your tatties, carrot and lentils. Stir (with a wooden spoon 'cos that's what your wee Granny Jean taught you! HAD to be a wooden one 😅) and cook for a few minutes so everything is nice and coated in the bacon, shallots and garlic. It smells INCREDIBLE!

Step 4

Add in your fave stock. I used chicken as that was all I had. Put that bougie bay leaf into your soup. I don't think it adds anything but my Granny would disagree! So we do what we are told! Put in enough water to cover everything plus a wee bit for good luck!

Step 5

Bring it all up to a boil and once boiling, turn it down to a simmer. Pop the lid on and give her a stir when you remember/ you're passing the pot/ you juat want to give it some lovin'!

Step 6

Once it's all cooked and the lentils and tatties are soft. Blend that bad boy! Blend it to a consistency that makes your heart happy. I love a smooth, thick, soup with a few lumps in it. If it is too thick (mine was!) Add more water until you're happy. Season with pepper. I would very much doubt you will want to add salt as the bacon makes this such a salty, savory delight but you do you, boo. If you want salt. You add that salt!

Step 7

Serve up with your favourite bread. This is a DUNK IT soup. If you want to go that little bit more, I chop up some bacon into lardons and air fry them for that salty, bacon crunch. Sprinkle them on top and enjoy a bowl of comfort! Particularly good on a snowy day, in the North East of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙