Insanely Good Lentil Soup

Ingredients

1 cup of green lentils picked over and rinsed

1/2 can of diced tomatoes

1/2 a package of pancetta or 2-3 slices chopped

3 celery stalks rinsed and chopped into bulky pieces OR
you could chop up your favorite mustard green or kale into bite size pieces

sometimes I add a medium dutch or 2 small fingering potatoes peeled into cubes

1/2 cup of chopped carrots

1/2 cup of chopped onion

2 cloves of garlic minced

1 splash of balsamic vinegar or lovely red wine of your choice

2 tbsp of olive oil

4 cups of chicken broth or bouillon 

fresh herbs like thyme or even basil...got cumin?

Directions

Add a little olive oil to the pot and sautee the pancetta, onion, garlic and veggies.

Add herbs and lentils to pot

Add broth

Boil for 10 minutes. 

Lower heat. Simmer for 40 minutes until lentils are tender. 

Add a splash of acid like red wine or balsamic to brighten the soup. 

Puree a few tablespoons of soup and add it back to the pot to thicken it if you like a stew like consistency. 

For soup, I serve it plain or with cheese toast. 

For stew, I'll eat it alone or with a nice grilled piece of fish and a salad.

Gorgeous.