Linsensuppe (german Lentil Soup With Frankfurter Slices)

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown lentils
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 1 leek (finely chopped)
• 1 carrot (finely diced)
• 2 celery ribs (chopped)
• 4 ounces lean bacon
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped, plus extra to garnish)
• 8 ounces frankfurters (sliced)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 rinse lentils thoroughly under cold running water (brown lentils don't need to be soaked b4 cooking).
• 2 heat oil in a lrg pan & gently fry onion for 5 min till soft. add leek, carrot, celery, bacon & bay leaves.
• 3 add lentils & water to the pan & slowly bring to a boil. skim the surface & simmer (half-covered) for 45-50 min or till the lentils are soft.
• 4 remove piece of bacon, cut into sml cubes (trimming off any excess fat) & return bacon cubes to the pot.
• 5 add parsley + frankfurter slices & season w/salt & pepper to taste pref. simmer gently for 2-3 min, remove bay leaves & serve garnished w/the extra parsley.
• 6 pers note: as i entered this recipe, i found myself wondering how the simmer time of 45-50 min might be adapted to crockpot use. if 1 among you is more practiced in this art, i'd appreciate that info. :-).