Spicy Kale, Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bacon hits all the flavor notes for a tasty and healthful fall dinner! Perfect for when you need some soup goodness!
Spicy Kale, Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bacon hits all the notes for a healthful and flavorful meal that’s perfect for an early fall dinner or for when you just need some soup goodness! We have an abundance of butternut squash from our garden, so stay tuned for more butternut squash recipes.
How to make Spicy Kale, Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bacon:
It’s super simple!
- Start with some diced bacon. Cook it until it’s crisp and the fat is rendered.
- Then add veggies, veggies and more veggies! Start with onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Oh my! Add broth, the lentils, canned tomatoes, butternut squash, kale, herbs and let it all just simmer!
- Finish the Spicy Kale, Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bacon with a splash of red wine vinegar and fresh chopped parsley.
- Serve with some amazing whole grain bread and this soup is good for whatever ails ya!
Want more great, hearty soup goodness? Be sure to try:
- Slow Cooker Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Andouille, Ham and Bacon
- Creamy Potato, Kielbasa and Kale Soup
- Spicy Italian Sausage, Whole Grain Penne and Vegetable Soup
- Roasted Poblano, Corn and Potato Chowder with Bacon and Gouda Cheese
- Chorizo, Kale and Sweet Potato Stew
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Spicy Kale Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bacon
Spicy Kale, Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bacon hits all the flavor notes for a tasty and healthful fall dinner! Perfect for when you need some soup goodness!
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 can (15-ounce) diced fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup brown lentils
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or more if you like it really spicy)
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed into ½-inch cubes (2-3 cups)
- 1 bunch kale, stems removed, sliced (3 cups)
- 1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place bacon in a Dutch oven. Heat to medium-high and cook, 6-7 minutes or until bacon is crisp and fat is rendered. Transfer back to paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
- Add onion to the bacon fat. Cook the onion over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until beginning to soften. Add the celery and carrots. Cook 8-10 minutes or until very soft, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook briefly until fragrant, 30 seconds.
- Add chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil.
- Add the bacon back in, the lentils, bay leaves, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. Bring back to a boil.
- Add butternut squash. Reduce heat to medium and cook 15-20 minutes.
- Add kale. Continue cooking another 5-10 minutes or until kale is wilted and lentils and squash are tender.
- Add red wine vinegar, parsley and salt and black pepper to taste.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 406Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 474mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 5gSugar: 3gProtein: 39g
The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Renee Gordon-Johnson says
Want to make this soup this weekend! Excited 😛
Are the lentils raw?
Soaked?
Cooked?
Carol says
Hi, Renee, Thanks so much for your question! I use brown lentils and let them cook in the soup. You could cook them separately if you wish. If using canned, cooked lentils, you’ll want to drain, rinse and add them at the end. Thanks again and hope this answers your question.
Kim says
My husband was very skeptical of this soup. He doesn’t like soup or squash and is skeptical of lentils. He was very impressed with the flavor and had a second bowl! Thank you for a new recipe to add to the mix.
Carol says
Hi, Kim, Wow, so this soup had numerous strikes against it per your hubby. Love that it won him over! Thanks so very much and glad you both enjoyed!
JessicaCanva says
Hi, Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe. A great recipe to eat clean as well. Thanks for sharing!
Carol says
Thanks, Jessica, Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed!
Anne says
You cook the bacon, then remove it, saute the onion in the bacon fat, then gradually add the other ingredients. Meanwhile, I guess you eat the bacon you just fried? It doesn’t seem to go back in the pot.
If it was me, and I was gradually washing, chopping up and adding ingredients while that delicious bacon was sitting there in front of me, I’d probably eat most of it, so that makes sense to me.
Carol says
Hi, Anne, You rock! That’s what I get for writing a recipe while under the weather. Yes, you most certainly put the bacon back in! Thanks so much and I’ve corrected the recipe!