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.
Liquid smoke isn't a bad idea (in moderation) but good, authentic, Spanish smoked pimenton is definitely not wimpy. You won't find it in your supermarket though.
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! :)
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that' s my go to bacon sub