- 1/4 pound bacon, slices cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
- 2 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 stalks celery, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 1/3 cups lentils
- 1 1/2 quarts canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 cup canned tomatoes in thick puree, chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried red-pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup tubetti or other small macaroni
- In a large pot, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp. Remove. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add the carrots, onions, celery, mushrooms, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add the lentils, broth, water, rosemary, tomatoes, salt, red-pepper flakes, black pepper, and bacon. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the pasta and simmer until the lentils are tender and the pasta is done, 10 to 15 minutes longer.