Smokey Bacon and Chickpea Soup

Winter is definitely here and for me that means it’s soup weather!

I love my chunky vegetable soup but I’m getting a little bored of it so today I decided to try something new and this is what I came up with.

Smokey Bacon and Chickpea Soup tastes amazing and it’s perfect for warming you up from the inside.

There’s a real smoked flavour to it and the chickpeas give it some real filling power.

Ingredients

• 4 rashers of smoked bacon, fat removed and cut into small chunks
• 2 tins chopped tomatoes
• 1 tin of chickpeas
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 tbsp of smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp of chilli flakes
• 1 tsp of garlic powder
• 2 tsp of worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp of tomato puree

Method (Serves 4)

Spray a large saucepan with cooking spray and warm over a medium heat.

Add the onion and bacon and fry until the bacon has browned. Next, add a bit of paprika and continue to fry for another minute.

Add the tinned tomatoes, chickpeas, chilli flakes, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and stir well.

Add the stock and tomato puree then stir again. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for around half an hour.

The Smokey Bacon and Chickpea Soup should thicken up and there should be enough for 4 portions. I often freeze a couple so I have them for later days. I also have a reusable soup bowl for work so that always gets filled!

Enjoy!