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Red Lentil Soup with Ham

January 1st, 2012

Happy New Year Everyone! I just wanted to say a thank you for all of your incredible support in 2011 and let you know how very much I’m looking forward to a delicious 2012!

I have a really good feeling that 2012 is going to be a special year.

And in the spirit of a fresh and exciting new year, I am going to try to start fresh with my body too.

Lets just say that things have gotten a little out of control over the holidays. I mean, my jeans look more like sausage casing than pants. I have got to get a grip and get healthy again!

So that’s what it’s going to be all about around here for the month of January. Healthy recipes and healthy living!

Please let me know what kind of healthy recipes you are interested in this month and I will do my best to create as many as I can.

This first recipe of 2012 is a hearty, healthy and very flavorful soup. Vegetables and smoked ham hock flavor the red lentils which make this soup so thick.

This red lentil soup is packed with fiber and vitamins and one bowl will keep you full for ages!

Red Lentil Soup with Ham , serves 12
2 lbs ham hock
1 Tbs butter
2 cups onion, small diced
2 cups carrots, small diced
2 cups celery, small diced
2 cups dry white wine
8 cups chicken stock
12 oz dried red lentils, rinsed thoroughly and drained
2 tsp dried cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika
Kosher salt

Heat a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the ham hock and let it sear in the pot for a few minutes.

Add the butter and let it melt with the ham hock.

Add the vegetables to the pot and sprinkle them with Kosher salt.

Stir the vegetables with the butter and let them sweat until soft and tender, about 10 minutes

Add the white wine and scrape any browned bits off of the bottom of the pot.

Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add the lentils.

Cover the soup with a lid and let the soup simmer about 30 minutes until the lentils are fluffy and tender.

Remove the ham hock from the soup and cut off the lean meat and add it back to the soup. Discard the rest of the ham bone and skin.

Season with the cumin, paprika and Kosher salt.

Serve Hot and Enjoy!