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Ham and Lentil Soup

[heart_this] · Apr 15, 2009 · 72 Comments

Ham and Lentil Soup

I always like cooking ham and I often find myself thinking that my favorite part is the leftovers; especially that ham bone. Ham bones can be used to either make a nice ham stock or you can just throw the bone right into any number of tasty soups and it adds a ton of flavour as simmers away. This time I was thinking that I don’t use lentils often enough and that a ham and lentil soup would be really nice. I don’t normally use a recipe for these kinds of soups as they are so easy. After I have decided on the primary ingredients I normally go for the standard onion, carrot and celery combo along with some stock. From there I add a few herbs, fresh or preserved and I like to finish the soups off with a green vegetable, in this case I went with some spinach. The soup is really easy to make and once you are done with all of the chopping you can relax while it simmers and draws out all of the flavours. The ham and lentil soup turned out great! It was nice and tasty and I really enjoyed the texture of the lentils in the soup. I will need to experiment some more with lentil soups.

Ham and Lentil Soup

Ham and Lentil Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes Servings: 4
ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion (chopped)
  • 1 carrot (chopped)
  • 2 stalks celery (chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 4 cups ham broth or chicken broth or chicken stock
  • 1 cup dry lentils
  • 2 cups ham (diced)
  • 1 ham bone (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 bunch spinach (rinsed and trimmed)
directions
  1. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan.
  2. Add the onions, carrot and celery and saute until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, a few minutes.
  4. Add the stock, lentils, ham, ham bone, oregano, bay leaf and thyme and simmer, covered on low heat for an hour.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in the spinach.
Slow Cooker: Optionally implement steps 1-3, place everything except the spinach in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-10 hours or high for 2-4 hours before adding the spinach.
Similar Recipes:
Ham and Bean Soup
Ham and Chickpea Soup
Hoppin’ John
Split Pea Soup
Creole Split Pea Soup
Maple, Bourbon Ham and Baked Bean Soup
Lemony Lentil Soup

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Crockpot, Food, Gluten-free, Ham, Pork, Recipe, Slow Cooker, Soup

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sharon says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:15 am

    Looks great Kevin! Love lentils!

    Reply
  2. VeggieGirl says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:17 am

    Mmm, lentils & spinach!!

    Reply
  3. Y says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:27 am

    Tasty! Will have to remember to make this in the near future. Cooked a batch of pork ‘n’ beans recently, so I’ve od-ed on the combination for the time being.

    Reply
  4. Amanda @ Fake Ginger says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:30 am

    That looks delicious. I wish my husband would eat lentils. 🙁

    Reply
  5. Jessica says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:35 am

    Wow, I can imagine the flavors! This would go great with the balsamic syrup drizzled baguette I just posted.

    Reply
  6. Marta says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:47 am

    Lentils are the best food ever, so nutritious and flavourful! Thanks for this great recipe 🙂

    Reply
  7. meeso says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:58 am

    The best part about ham IS the leftovers… the soup looks great!

    Reply
  8. Leslie says

    April 16, 2009 at 12:59 am

    What a nice, filling and healthy soup!

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    April 16, 2009 at 1:34 am

    Love lentils. The addition of ham seems interesting. Looks delicious.

    Reply
  10. Dragon says

    April 16, 2009 at 1:37 am

    Another winning combination!

    Reply
  11. Jaime and Jen DISH says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:02 am

    Kevin,

    This soup looks devine! Seriously! Thanks for posting it, makes me want to try it and venture into the lentil world.

    Bravo!

    Jenifer

    Reply
  12. Ciao Chow Linda says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:03 am

    Kevin – The addition of the greens is really great. A nice change from the beans and ham soup I normally make with leftover ham bones.

    Reply
  13. Katrina says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:12 am

    We’re feeling a little all “hammed” out here from the big Easter dinner and all the leftovers, but this soup looks SO good. And there’s still more ham, the perfect kind for cutting little chunks.

    Reply
  14. Kerstin says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:16 am

    Looks delicious – I love the spinach you added!

    Reply
  15. Adrienne says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:31 am

    Kevin, that looks great! I’ll have to make it for just me, as bf does not eat piggies, but! I think it would be pretty in pink with red lentils, too. Yum.

    Reply
  16. SD says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:48 am

    well, now I know what to do with the ham bone left over from your gingersnap crusted ham post (fantastic, by the way) I served for Easter…

    Reply
  17. Melynda says

    April 16, 2009 at 3:06 am

    It is the “green” that makes this soup so wonderful. Great idea, thanks.

    Reply
  18. Foodie with Little Thyme! says

    April 16, 2009 at 3:21 am

    I love Lentil soup. I’ll try your version as soon as it’s not over 80 degrees here in Texas. Look yum.

    Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    April 16, 2009 at 3:57 am

    The spinach is nice and green-soup looks great 🙂

    Reply
  20. unconfidential cook says

    April 16, 2009 at 4:21 am

    This looks just great! It’s unseasonably cold here in LA, and what a perfect dinner (this would have been…tonight).

    Reply
  21. alice says

    April 16, 2009 at 5:31 am

    Beautiful dish as always Kevin.

    Reply
  22. Rosa's Yummy Yums says

    April 16, 2009 at 5:44 am

    A delightfully comforting dish with gorgeous flavors!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  23. Sylvie says

    April 16, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Ham and lentils are a perfect combination.

    Reply
  24. lillian says

    April 16, 2009 at 8:12 am

    Looks great!You could also try adding to your standard stock and veggies,some olive oil,tomato paste,1 tsp sugar,oregano,and a WHOLE head of peeled,UNchopped garlic!!!

    Reply
  25. mirtilla says

    April 16, 2009 at 9:58 am

    Bellissima da vedere, buonissima da mangiare…
    Buona giornata.

    Reply
  26. Debbie says

    April 16, 2009 at 11:26 am

    I just love lentil soup. Looks great!

    Reply
  27. Steph says

    April 16, 2009 at 11:54 am

    I love lentil soup!

    Reply
  28. mycookinghut says

    April 16, 2009 at 11:57 am

    What a delicious dish! My kinda food!

    Reply
  29. Culinary Cory says

    April 16, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Sounds like a perfect way for me to use up some of my leftover ham.

    Reply
  30. Jan says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    Great looking soup Kevin!

    Reply
  31. Netts Nook says

    April 16, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Kevin your soup looks great love all the lentils.

    Reply
  32. Cheryl says

    April 16, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    YUM that looks good, dang it I gave my ham bone to my sister in law!

    Reply
  33. Anonymous says

    April 16, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    wow…with the ham, this soup must be SO flavorful! I’ve been looking for lentil recipes, so thanks for this! now, to find me a ham bone…

    Reply
  34. Allie says

    April 16, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    How beautiful, Kevin. Thank you for reminding me to use my lentils, and in such an appetising way!

    Reply
  35. Marysol says

    April 16, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    Well, Kevin, you must be Peh-sychic.
    I’d been craving Lentil soup all week long, and here’s your timely, not to mention, delicious rendition of a wonderful soup.

    Reply
  36. lisaiscooking says

    April 16, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    I love lentil soup with spinach! Looks great!

    Reply
  37. stephchows says

    April 16, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    this sounds absolutely delicious!!

    Reply
  38. Rho says

    April 16, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    I have just tagged you with a blog award. You can pick it up at my blog site: http://justrho.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  39. Deseree says

    April 16, 2009 at 11:14 pm

    That looks delicious! It is still a little cold here so soup sounds wonderful 🙂

    Reply
  40. Allen of EOL says

    April 16, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    The colors in this are amazing — it looks so delicious and is perfect for a chilly day.

    Reply
  41. Helene says

    April 17, 2009 at 12:16 am

    This is such a great recipe. I love leftover ham as well.

    Reply
  42. Phyllis says

    April 17, 2009 at 12:27 am

    MMMMMMM….homemade ham and lentil soup. I’ve always had it straight from the can!

    b/t/w I’ve given your blog an “I Love Your Blog” award on my latest post. Your gorgeous photos and recipes are very inspiring!

    http://mehungry-phyllis.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-love-your-blog-awards-and-little-more.html

    Reply
  43. Christina says

    April 17, 2009 at 3:41 am

    Ooooh your lentil soup looks so good. I used to make split pea soups with smoked turkey too. The smoked turkey gives the same result as the ham. Your soup is reminding me that it’s about time for me to make mine again 🙂

    Christina

    Reply
  44. Anonymous says

    April 17, 2009 at 9:30 am

    This soup looks absolutely delicious! And couldn’t be better timing – i have some ham that needs to be used up, and what a great way to do it!

    Reply
  45. SusanQ says

    April 17, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    We were thinking along the same lines this week. I couldn’t decide between lentils, peas or beans and beans won 🙂

    Reply
  46. megan (brooklyn farmhouse) says

    April 17, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    I love lentils, and lentils & ham – classic, delicious combo! Great photo, too!

    Reply
  47. eatme_delicious says

    April 18, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    Your photos are so gorgeous!

    Reply
  48. Jan says

    April 18, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    That looks like a wonderfully hearty soup.

    Reply
  49. Jeanne says

    April 18, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    All my favourite things in one bowl!! Definitely destined for my bookmarks 🙂

    Reply
  50. Anonymous says

    April 20, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Hey Kevin, i made your soup on the weekend and it was just as delicious as it looked in your picture! Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
  51. Anonymous says

    April 22, 2009 at 8:41 am

    can’t go wrong with that meal!

    Reply
  52. mirtilla says

    April 22, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    Ho parlato della tua ricetta ad una mia amica. Ha detto che la zuppa si fa anche coi ceci al posto delle lenticchie…

    Reply
  53. Dazy says

    July 1, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    I like soups in winter, warming nourishing and usually make my own.
    This one looks little thick and my kids like thick one too. It would be healthy too for them.

    Reply
  54. Anonymous says

    October 9, 2009 at 1:29 am

    I love addding a bit of white wine vinegar in the soup on my serving bowl. It adds a great bite to the soup.

    Reply
  55. Brittany says

    December 9, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Could you use sausage rather than ham and prepare it the same way?

    Reply
  56. Kevin says

    December 9, 2009 at 11:34 pm

    Brittany: I would say that a nice and tasty Italian sausage (or something similar) would also work really well.

    Reply
  57. Anonymous says

    January 8, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    Hey I used your recipe last night and made this for dinner! So easy and my husband and I loved it! Thanks!!

    Reply
  58. EricB says

    February 24, 2010 at 2:05 am

    this was delicious!!!

    Reply
  59. Christina says

    November 22, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    I made this last night – incredible! Mine looked very different than yours and my lentils completely disappeared! But it was so delicious. Thank you!

    Reply
  60. masmix says

    November 12, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    Just made this and it is unbelievably good. AS in AWESOME!!!!

    Reply
  61. ham and spinach soup says

    May 10, 2012 at 2:44 am

    i’ve been meaning to make this soup since i first found your blog. SO easy, and so simple.,, Thanks,

    Reply
  62. Anonymous says

    May 17, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    Your blog smells wonderful!

    Reply
  63. Anonymous says

    January 14, 2013 at 12:11 am

    Ok – I'm trying it this evening with the leftover ham bone from Christmas! No ham meat, no stock, but I do have the rest of the ingredients…. can't wait! Yum!

    Reply
  64. Anonymous says

    February 27, 2017 at 3:12 am

    I made a double batch of this.. It came out great… Only difference i made was adding a can of tomato puree… And no spinach because my family doesnt like cooked spinach… A+

    Reply
  65. Lesanne F. says

    January 7, 2020 at 11:26 am

    How much is a “bunch” of spinach?

    Reply
    • kevin says

      January 10, 2020 at 9:24 am

      These days a bunch of spinach is usually around 10-12 ounces but once you remove all of the stems you are probably at 4-5 ounces. Enjoy!

      Reply
  66. Shannon M Fuller says

    April 4, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    This soup is amazing! Making it a second time today!

    Reply
  67. Laurie Cutcher says

    November 30, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    I’m cooking this soup today. WNot ever cooked lentils before. Had a lentil soup years ago and your picture looks dark like I remember it. What makes the dark color of the soup? Thanks.

    Reply
    • kevin says

      December 7, 2020 at 8:30 am

      The colour of the broth comes from the lentils!

      Reply
  68. Kathy says

    April 23, 2021 at 1:41 am

    I put bite size potatoes in mine .My family loves it and it makes a hearty meal for my guys .

    Reply

Trackbacks

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Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
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