Lentil Soup

DDW's Note:

We had this recipe made for us several years back when my twins were babies. We love it and eat it often, especially during the winter. Leftovers have even more flavor and it freezes well. I've made this with dried herbs or fresh. A lot of people turn their nose up at the sound of Lentil soup and they have been converted with this one!

• Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 2 cups lentils
• 2 quarts water
• 1 meaty ham bone or 3 -4 ham hocks
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 -2 diced carrot
• 2 stalks chopped celery
• 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon basil (I prefer to use a .75 oz pkg of fresh basil)
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Directions:

1. Rinse the lentils and place them in a soup pot.
2. Add: water, ham bone, onion, carrots, celery, parsley, garlic,basil, oregano.
3. Salt& pepper to taste.
4. Cover pan and bring to a boil, then turn down heat and simmer covered for 1 1/2 hours.
5. After long simmer add the can of tomatoes (do not drain) and vinegar.
6. Simmer for 30 minutes more.
7. Remove bone and put any meat back into the soup.
8. Adjust any seasonings to taste.

Reviews

[Chefiebig]

This soup was home-y and delish. I didn't have any parsley on hand, but we didn't miss it one bit. I used a smoked ham hock, added more garlic and didn't put in the spinach. Definitely a keeper.

[Shabby Sign Shoppe]

This is a great soup. I love lentil soup and my childhood neighbor from Greece used to make the best. This is the next best thing. Next time I will add some chopped frozen spinach, (1/2 a box) like she used to do. Thanks so much!

[cajunboy71]

This was a phenomenal recipe! I used a leftover ham bone from Christmas dinner. I first rinsed off all sweet glaze and then boiled the bone in water for about two hours. I then added salt, pepper, cayenne, and quite a bit of garlic powder to make a very flavorful stock that tasted great just all on its own. I then added the rest of the ingredients, an additional can of chicken stock, and then cooked everything else for another couple of hours. In the last 45 minutes, I added a can of fire roasted tomatoes and a package of chopped spinach. This was BY FAR the most tasty soup that we have ever cooked or tasted.