Lentil Soup

Marlys Waldo and Clarissa Helton original recipe

leftover ham bone with some leftover meat attached
1/2 large onion, whole
1 large carrot, peeled and left whole
2 Tb vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/4 inch half moons
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tb tomato paste
1 1/2 cups RED lentils, picked over and rinsed
1/2 tea dried thyme
1 Tb red-wine vinegar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Grated parmesan, optional

1. Put ham bone in 5 QT soup pot, cover with water (approx. 6 cups). Add one large carrot whole or cut in two and 1/2 an onion, whole, to the pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until the meat falls off the bone (approx. 1 hour). Remove and discard carrot and onion, pull the ham off the bone and discard bone.

2. In another stock pot, add 2 Tb oil and saute onion and carrots. cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minutes. 

3. Add red lentils, thyme, and 5 1/2 cups of ham-bone broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cover, cook until lentils are tender, 30-45 minutes. Add reserved ham pieces to the pot and turn off heat. 

4. Stir in vinegar, 1 1/2 tea salt or to taste and 1/4 tea pepper. Top with a couple pinches of parmesan, if desired. Serve at once.