Lentil, Bacon & Orzo Soup

Happy Friday! We made it. This week has felt pretty long, it's been a busy one and a cold one too. Have you had any snow? We've escaped it so far (I'm writing this Thursday evening so we could wake up to a blizzard!) I popped out to the shop yesterday and naively thought it's not cold enough for snow and by the time I'd reached the shop I had very much changed my mind. We came home and warmed up with soup. 

I used to laugh at my mum for eating soup and roll everyday for her lunch but do you know what? She has a point. Something filling, nutritious and simple to make. What's not to love? I absolute favourite flavour is lentil and bacon. It has to be to be my Mum's, of course, I'm pretty sure it could cure all ills. But me being me made it all fancy by adding in some pasta. 

A few years ago I was searching high and low for orzo and I couldn't find it anywhere. Now my local ASDA sell it for 55p! We all love it too. I love rice and my husband loves pasta so this is the perfect meet in the middle accompaniment. In the soup it makes it filling and adds a lovely texture.  

This soup is simple to make and pretty quick too. It's the perfect way to warm up and fill your belly!

Lentil, Bacon & Orzo Soup

-  Serves 6 - 

200g smoked bacon lardons

1 onion

3 medium carrots, diced

1 small potato, diced

1 tin chopped tomatoes

75g red lentils

75g orzo 

1.2 L (2 pints) boiled water

1 vegetable stock cube

salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan heat 1 tbsp oil and fry the bacon lardons until cooked.

Add the onion, carrot and potato and fry on a medium heat for 5 minutes or until the veg starts to soften.

Add the the lentils and orzo then stir through the chopped tomatoes,

Add the stock cube and boiling water. 

Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes until the vegetables are soft.

Serve with crusty bread. (Because, you know, you can never have too many carbs!)