This basic ham and lentil soup is thick and stuffed with smoky taste and greens. Use diced cooked ham or a ham bone. Make it within the gradual cooker, on the stovetop, or within the Immediate Pot.
Meal-Prep Pleasant Ham and Lentil Soup (Set It & Overlook It)
When it’s formally soup season and the air feels slightly colder beginning in October, all of us crave bowls which might be heat, thick, and genuinely satisfying—the type you possibly can eat with a spoon in a single hand and a slice of bread within the different. This gradual cooker ham and lentil soup is precisely that: further hearty with out being heavy, deeply flavorful from tomatoes, different veggies, and smoky spices, and so cozy it virtually invitations you to placed on fuzzy socks. It is budget-friendly, and excellent for simple weeknight dinners. It tastes prefer it simmered on the range all day… as a result of, nicely, it form of did—your gradual cooker did the work when you lived your life. My different weeknight soup favorites are Creamy Hen Enchilada Soup, cozy Sausage White Bean Soup, and White Lasagna Soup. All of those soups will be made forward and are nice for entertaining through the colder months of the 12 months.
What sort of ham works greatest on this soup?
- I used diced cooked ham (the thicker, dinner-style ham steaks or leftover vacation ham), reduce into ½-inch cubes. It offers me meaty, tidy bites that maintain their form after hours within the gradual cooker, and it seasons the entire pot with out turning it overly salty. I select low-sodium ham every time I can so I can management the ultimate seasoning on the finish.
- Ham bone or a ham shank are additionally good choices. The bone releases collagen whereas it simmers, which makes the soup naturally velvety with out cream. After cooking, pull the bone out, shred no matter meat clings to it, and stir that attractive meat again in.
- Smoked ham hock is phenomenal for taste however often doesn’t offer you tons of meat—so I’d pair it with a cup or two of diced ham for the perfect of each worlds.
- Have leftover spiral-sliced ham from a vacation? Use it! Cube it up and in it goes. Spiral ham could be a bit drier, however in a gradual cooker soup, the broth rehydrates it fantastically.
What Kind of Lentils Work Finest?
- I favor inexperienced or brown lentils as a result of they maintain their form and provides the perfect texture for a soup or stew. I don’t pre-soak the lentils (no want with inexperienced or brown), and I examined this at each LOW and HIGH settings.
- Purple lentils prepare dinner down rapidly and can make it mushier. I’d stick to inexperienced or brown lentils as a substitute.
- Can I exploit cut up peas as a substitute of lentils? Sure, however cooking time might fluctuate barely. Cut up peas will break down extra and provides a creamier texture.
What to Serve with It
As a result of this ham and lentil soup is all about consolation meals, I really like pairing it with easy sides. Attempt it with a heat slice of my bread machine garlic bread, a basket of garlic butter dinner rolls for dunking, or with my savory cheddar bacon scones. Add one thing recent on the aspect like my candy potato kale salad or Fall-inspired apple spinach salad. And, When you’re trying so as to add extra cozy soups to your dinner rotation, bookmark a number of extra reader favorites when you’re right here—my Butternut Squash Sausage Orzo Soup, straightforward Sausage Potato Soup, and Hungarian Mushroom Soup.
Extra Consolation Meals Recipes To Attempt
Ham and Lentil Soup
#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #343434; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33 cease { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50 cease { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66 cease { stop-color: #343434; }
Components
- 6 cups low-sodium hen broth
- 2 ½ cups diced cooked ham or 1 ham bone with further meat hooked up
- 2 ½ cups dried lentils rinsed (inexperienced or brown really useful)
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 15 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon floor cumin non-obligatory, for heat
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to style added on the finish
- Recent parsley for garnish
Directions
-
Add lentils, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, ham, tomato sauce, broth, thyme, smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, bay leaves, pepper, and olive oil to a 6-quart gradual cooker. Stir every little thing collectively.
-
Cowl and prepare dinner on low for six–8 hours or on excessive for 4–5 hours, till lentils are tender and the stew has thickened.
-
If utilizing a ham bone, take away it when the stew is finished, shred off any meat, and return it to the pot. Discard the bone and bay leaves.
-
Stir nicely and modify with salt if wanted. If it’s too thick on your liking, stir in ½ to 1 cup further broth.
-
Serve sizzling with crusty bread, cornbread, or over rice for a full meal. Garnish with chopped recent parsley if desired.
Notes
- How can I make this further smoky? Add a splash of liquid smoke or use smoked ham hock as a substitute of diced ham.
- Can I make this vegetarian? Sure—miss the ham, use vegetable broth, and add further veggies like mushrooms or candy potatoes. Smoked paprika helps exchange the ham’s depth of taste.
- What if I need even thicker stew? Go away the lid off for the final half-hour of cooking to permit further liquid to evaporate, or mash among the lentils with a spoon earlier than serving.
- How can I repair a stew that’s too thick? Stir in sizzling broth or water ¼ cup at a time. For further silkiness, a knob of butter or a splash of cream additionally helps.
- When ought to I add salt? On the finish. Between ham and broth, salt ranges fluctuate. I style when lentils are tender, then season so I don’t oversalt.
Ideas for Success
- The tomato sauce is essential—it thickens and provides depth of taste.
- For a creamier texture, mix a few ladles of the stew and stir again in.
- Including cumin deepens the flavour and pairs nicely with the smokiness of the ham.
- All the time wait till the tip to salt—it depends upon how salty your ham is.
- A splash of vinegar or lemon juice on the finish brightens the dish.
Storage
- This stew thickens much more because it cools. Retailer within the fridge for as much as 4 days or freeze in parts for as much as 3 months.
- Reheat with a splash of broth or water if wanted.
Different Cooking Strategies
- Stovetop Technique: Warmth a big pot with slightly olive oil and sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic for a couple of minutes till softened. Add lentils, ham (or ham bone), tomato sauce, broth, and seasonings. Carry to a boil, then simmer gently, coated, for about 45 minutes or till the lentils are tender. Take away the ham bone if used, shred the meat, return it to the pot, and season to style.
- Immediate Pot Technique: Add all components to the Immediate Pot, stir, and set to Stress Cook dinner (Excessive) for 12–quarter-hour. Let strain launch naturally for 10 minutes, then quick-release. Use 5–5½ cups broth. Take away the ham bone (if utilizing), shred the meat, and stir the meat again in. Regulate salt and broth as wanted, then serve sizzling.
Diet
