Bacon, carrot, butterbean and coriander soup

Comfort food doesn’t get heartier than this

Ingredients (Serves 4)

6 rashers lean hickory-smoked streaky bacon, diced
1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
450g/1lb carrots, peeled and finely sliced
750ml/11⁄4pt ham stock
150ml/1⁄4pt white wine
1 tsp ground coriander
Salt and Freshly ground black pepper
1 x 400g can butter beans, drained
2 tbsp fresh coriander, roughly chopped
1 small baguette, cut into slices and toasted
Pesto sauce
4 rashers crispy cooked bacon

Dry fry the bacon rashers for 2-3 minutes, then add the onion and carrots to the pan and sauté for 2-3 minutes.

Pour in the stock and wine, sprinkle over the coriander and season with freshly ground black pepper then stir in the butter beans. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the carrots are soft then stir in the chopped coriander, check the seasoning and adjust if necessary. Spoon into warm bowls.

Smear a little pesto sauce onto each of the baguette slices, arrange on top of the soup and finish off with a rasher of crispy bacon. Serve immediately.