This warming filling and healthy soup is packed full of flavour, vitamins and fibre from the vegetables and lentils it tastes delicious and works well either smooth or chunky, I love both.

I often take it to work for lunch as it reheats very well in the microwave, I tend to make it on Sunday and pop it in the fridge for the next few days.

Serves 4 – 6.

Low – calorie cooking spray

8 – 10 slices un-smoked back bacon, any visible fat removed

1 large red onion, finely chopped

1 red pepper, de-seeded and finely chopped

1 medium sweet potato, cleaned and finely chopped

½ tsp lazy garlic

½ tsp lazy chilli

400g can or box of green lentils, drained

1 ltr chicken stock

1tsp dried thyme

1 bay leaf

Black pepper

Fresh chopped parsley to garnish

Method

Heat a large lidded, saucepan over a medium heat, spray with the low – calorie cooking spray.

Add the bacon, onion, and red pepper and cook gently for 10 minutes or until starting to soften. Add the sweet potato garlic and lentils, stir, and cook for a few more minutes.

Pour over the stock, add the herbs, and black pepper, turn up the heat and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low, place on the lid and cook gently for 20 minutes until the sweet potato is tender.

Remove the bay leaf and serve. If you prefer the soup smooth blend with a stick blender or blitz in a food processor.

Serve sprinkled with some chopped fresh parsley.