Description
This hearty ham hock and lentil soup is a comforting one-pot meal. It combines tender lentils with rich, smoky ham hock for a flavorful dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (1.5-2 pound) smoked ham hock
- 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the smoked ham hock, rinsed lentils, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, bay leaf, and dried thyme to the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the ham hock is very tender and the lentils are cooked through. This creates a delicious ham hock lentil soup.
- Carefully remove the ham hock from the pot. Once cool enough to handle, shred the meat from the bone, discarding the bone, skin, and any excess fat.
- Return the shredded ham to the ham hock lentil soup.
- Season the ham hock lentil soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
- Ladle the hearty ham hock lentil soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Enjoy this traditional ham hock and lentil dish.
Notes
- For a thicker soup, you can mash some of the lentils against the side of the pot with a spoon.
- This easy ham hock lentil soup recipe can be made in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- To make pressure cooker ham hock lentil soup, cook on high pressure for 30-40 minutes with a natural release.
- Leftover ham hock lentil soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and freezes beautifully for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 15g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 30mg