Hungarian Bean soup Great soup for a cold day

1 1/2 cup dried beans   I use white beans but you can use any dried bean
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions chopped
2 cloves garlic  minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
4 tsp Hungarian paprika
1 bay leaf
1 zucchini grated
2 carrots chopped
2 rib celery
3/4 tsp  salt.
3/4 tsp pepper
5 cups vegetable stock
4 cup water
1/2 tsp red chili flake   optional
1/2 lb chopped bacon    You can leave it out if you are making a vegetarian dish

soak beans in 4 1/2 cup water over night and drain
in soup pot put oil and bacon in and fry for 8-10 mins  (remove from pot)
add onions and cook until onions turn clear
add carrots,celery,garlic,zucchini
cook for 6 mins, add tomato paste
Add beans, bay leaf, water,stock,bacon
Bring to a boil and reduce heat
Simmer for 1 hr.

Enjoy

This soup freezes great