Ham and Lentil Soup

Its a cold snowy day outside and I am hunkered in for the day so what better to make than a bowl of soup for supper. We had a ham a couple nights ago for dinner so this is a good use of leftover meat to make a hearty bowl of pure comfort!! The Cast of Ingredients!! Fresh vegetables, cut up ham and stock, canned Lentils, Tomatoes and Beans.

Chop all vegetables into small chunks. I like a lot of texture in my soups and fresh vegetable cut up into small chunks provides that.

Simmer vegetables in dutch oven with 1TBSP of Butter and Olive Oil, until translucent and starting to brown.

The cast of spices I put into this soup. Salt, Pepper, Cumin, Italian Seasoning, Smoked Paprika, Oregano, Red Pepper Flakes.

Add spices and Ham to the sauted Vegetables and mix together. Add two cups of Ham Stock to the pot.

Add Canned Lentils, Chopped Tomatoes and Beans and stir into the soup.

Squeeze the juice of one Lime into the pot and simmer the soup on the stove on Low heat for about an hour.

Its ready to serve and enjoy!! It is a very hearty and nutritious soup and the only thing I would do different is to omit the salt if you are using a salty type meat such as Ham. I thought it was just perfect but some might think it has too much salt.

HAM AND LENTIL SOUP

19 oz. can Lentils

19 oz. can Chopped Tomatoes

14 oz. can Pork and Beans

2 cups Chopped Ham

2 cups Ham Stock

2 diced carrots

1 chopped Celery stalk

1 chopped Red Pepper

5 chopped cloves Garlic

1 TBSP. Butter

1TBSP. Olive Oil

1 Lime

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Pepper

1/2 tsp. Cumin

1 TBSP. Italian Seasoning

1/2 tsp. Smoked Paprika

1 tsp. Oregano

1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes.

Saute carrots, peppers, garlic, celery and onions in butter and olive oil until browned. Add spices, ham and ham stock to the pot. Add Beans, lentils and Tomatoes to the pot and squeeze the juice of the lime into the pot. Simmer the soup on low heat for about an hour. Its done!!!

Enjoy!!