Stairwell Soup with Eviction Arrows

Ingredients

• 2 onions
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 carrots
• 1 red bell pepper (for the soup)
• 1 red bell pepper (for the arrows)
• 2 celery stalks
• 200 g chorizo (optional)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (400 g)
• 200 g dried lentils
• 1.5 liters chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 baguette
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Chop the onions and garlic. Dice carrots, celery, and 1 bell pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Sauté onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and bell pepper for 5 minutes.
3. Add diced chorizo (optional) and fry for 2 minutes.
4. Add diced tomatoes, lentils, stock, bay leaf, and paprika. Bring to a boil.
5. Simmer 30-40 minutes until lentils are soft. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Slice the second bell pepper into long strips. Grill for 10 minutes until soft and slightly charred.
7. Cut the baguette diagonally into long thin slices. Toast in the oven until crisp.
8. Ladle soup into bowls. Arrange 3-4 pepper strips diagonally as arrows, then 2-3 bread slices to create a stairwell with crossing arrows.

Serving notes

• Serve immediately to keep the bread crisp.
• Sprinkle extra smoked paprika for a Spanish touch.