Red Lentils, Onion, Bacon Soup - River Cottage

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon rapeseed, sunflower or olive oil
• 4 rashers of smoked bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 200g split red lentils, well rinsed
• 1 bay leaf and/or a sprig of thyme (optional)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper