Winter Warmer: Lentil, Carrot and Chorizo Soup

What did the chef say when the first course was ready?

Soups-on!

(I know, I'm hilarious).

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the clocks are about to turn back and the nights are definitely turning in. At this turn of the season, nothing gets you into the winter vibe more than a steaming bowl of hearty soup with a nice chunk of rustic bread.

This soup is incredibly filling - the lentils are high in fibre and protein (hi fibre! hi protein!) to keep you going as the rain and sleet and snow sets in, the chorizo helps give a hearty depth to the flavour, whilst the carrots add vibrant colour (and who knows, with all that Vitamin A they contain, might help you see better at 3.30pm when it gets dark!).

Added bonus - eaaaaaasy and mega cheap to make in bulk! Freezes excellently and only gets better with age, so bake with the biggest saucepan you have and soup-er size your cooking!

What You'll Need:

Serves ~10

- 1/2 stick chorizo (or use 4 rashers of bacon)

- 6 carrots

- 5 cloves garlic

- 1 tablespoon turmeric

- 1-2 stock cubes (any flavour, but probably veggie is best)

- 2 cups red lentils

- 2.5 litres boiling water

- Black pepper to garnish

The How-To:

1. In a pan, cook the chorizo over a low heat for a few minutes

2. Remove most of the chorizo from the pan, turn up the heat and cook the rest until crispy. Set aside and turn down heat again. 

3. Grate/finely chop 6 carrots and add to pan with garlic (peeled but whole) and turmeric

4. Boil 2.5 litres of water and mix in a separate bowl with the stock cubes

5. Put stock, 2 cups of red lentils and carrot mix into large saucepan or slow cooker

6. Cook on highish (NOT boiling) for 20-30 mins, then turn down low for as long as poss (in a saucepan, as many hours as you can, ideally more than 2, or if using a slow cooker just leave it on low all night!)

7. Ladle out a generous bowlful, garnish with crispy chorizo pieces and black pepper, and a side of courgette bread!

Travel Tip: Want to take soup to work but worried about spillage? Fill up an old sauce jar with soup and whack in the freezer. Take the frozen soup to work, and leave on the side to defrost until lunchtime when you can pop into a bowl and heat. No spills, no tears!