Lentil Soup with Bacon with Chicken Broth Low

Serves 6 in about 49 minutes. The pot starts with carrots, then t lemon juice.

Ingredients

• ½ lb thick sliced smoky bacon (about 6 slices cut in 1/2” pieces)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 carrots, diced
• 3 stalks of celery, diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
• 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes in puree
• ¼ tsp oregano, dried
• ¾ tsp coriander powder
• ¾ tsp cumin
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 4 inch sprig fresh rosemary
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme, or 1/2 tsp dried
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 t fresh lemon juice
• 5 cups chicken broth, low sodium
• 1 ½ cups brown lentils, picked over and rinsed

Method

1. Before you cook, have all of your ingredients prepared; veggies chopped, cans opened, spices measured, etc. This will make the process a lot easier for you!
2. Turn on the pot's Sauté function and add the bacon. Simmer bacon until done, but not crisp. Lift out from pot and keep it nearby on a paper towel. Discard all but 2 Tbsp of the fat.
3. Tip in onions, carrots, celery, and bay leaf. Simmer until vegetables are just getting tender, while stirring now and then and scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze (get those brown bits off the bottom).
4. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, while stirring the whole time.
5. Stir in tomatoes, oregano, coriander, cumin, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, vinegar, lemon juice, and broth. Mix well to combine.
6. Stir in rinsed lentils. Stir.
7. Set the lid on the pot and set the Steam Release Knob to Sealing.
8. Cancel the Sauté function.
9. Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button, or dial on Ultra. Set time to 4 minutes using the + or - button, or dial.
10. When cook cycle ends, let pot naturally release pressure for 13 minutes. Then manually release the remaining pressure by turning the knob to Venting (or push the button on the Ultra).
11. When the pin in the lid drops, it is safe to open the lid. Open and carefully stir the soup. Taste and adjust salt, if needed.
12. Stir in the bacon back in and stir.
13. Plate as is, or garnish with sour cream, cilantro, or whatever you like!

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.