Puy Lentils in Thyme and Bacon

A Saturday lunch that is unusual and very tasty. Paired with some dumplings a full meal.
Since it is made with bacon, it is the best. A wonderful sunny Saturday and between Easter grocery shopping and a run to the garden center to buy more herbs for the new season, this dish went well and left something to put into the freezer and enjoy on an other weekday at the office.

recipe:
750 ml boiling water
3 tbsp or 3 tea bags thyme
let it steep for 15 minutes.

 
200 g Puy lentils
Wash the lentils and put them into the tea and let it sit for 2 hours minimum.
Cook them in the thyme tea for 20 min.

ingredients

1 large onion
1 spring onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 parsnip
2 celery stalks
200 smoked bacon as a chunk, cut into big slices
1 tsp oil
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp paprika paste
2 bay leaves
1 clove
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
a dash cayenne pepper
1 tbsp vinegar

In a large pot start with the oil and the cut up bacon, when it gets brown, add the sugar, then the onions and garlic, the paprika paste and cook two more minutes, add the veggies and the seasoning.
When everything is brown, get the lentils in with the thyme tea and cook for 5 more minutes.
Use the vinegar to finish the lentils.

I served them with meat filled dumplings. But pasta or rice goes good with it too.