If you are going to make this vegetarian, would you add smoked paprika instead of the bacon?

tr y sun dried tomatoes
that' s my go to bacon sub

You could also roast some of the vegetables and get a little char on them to amp up the flavor and get a little bit of smokiness. For this recipe, I might roast the zucchini before adding it. Otherwise it looks like the recipe should have plenty of flavor even without bacon!

We make vegetarian black eyed peas and use either liquid smoke or smoked salt. Most smoked paprika that I have purchased is pretty wimpy in the smoked flavor department.

I agree with ATG117. I've made this soup without the bacon, making no subsitutions, and it is absolutely delicious as a vegetarian soup. Don't omit garnishing with the pesto -- the pesto really elevates this soup into something special. Hope that you enjoy! :)

I'd probably just leave out the bacon. I think it has enough flavor contrast going on even without it.

That seems like a good alternative.