Easy Lentil Soup With Ham Bone

Spanish soup recipes span a diverse range of flavors and ingredients, reflecting the country’s regional diversity and cultural influences, and we like to shed the spotlight on them.

In this article, the lentil soup with ham bone shines bright, providing a deep insight into its comforting flavors, nutritional benefits, and versatile nature.

Keep reading and you will learn everything about the easiest lentil soup: from how to prepare it from scratch to tips on storing, serving, and ingredient substitutions.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish soup recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Glass noodle soup

• Chicken soup without noodles

• Leek and butternut squash soup

Background of the Dish

Spanish lentil soup recipes date all the way back to the 1600s, as lentils have been a dietary staple in Spain for centuries due to their affordability, versatility, and nutritional value.

The addition of ham bone to lentil soup likely originated as a way to make the most out of leftover ham bones from meals like baked ham or the traditional Andalusian holiday feasts.

With time, different recipes mixing legumes and grains with meat derived from pork have been developed, like the Spanish bacon bean soup, or the Spanish chorizo stew, but the lentil soup with ham bone has remained a timeless classic, cherished for its simplicity and hearty flavors.

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Things You’ll Need for Lentil Soup With Ham Bone

To make this recipe for Spanish soup you will need ham bone (or ham hock), cooked canned lentils, chicken or vegetable broth, olive oil, carrots, onion, and garlic cloves as the main ingredients.

Similar to other ham and lentil recipes, the only equipment that you will need is a large pot.

Ingredients

• 6 cups (1.5l) chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 cup (240gr) canned and cooked green or brown lentils
• 1 ham bone with some meat attached (leftover from a ham)
• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 can (400gr) diced tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil for sautéing
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

How to Make Lentil Soup With Ham Bone – Step by Step Guide

1. Start with this recipe for ham and lentil soup by preparing the veggies. For that, peel and chop the carrots, celery stalk, and onion into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Remove the lentils from the can, rinse and drain them. Set everything aside. 

2. Now, heat a large pot over medium heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and sauté the diced onion, carrots, and celery until they start to soften, for about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.

3. Then, place the ham bone in the pot with the vegetables. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, ensuring the ham bone is submerged. Add the bay leaf, dried thyme, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

4. Once that time went by, remove the ham bone from the pot and set it aside to cool slightly. Pick off any remaining meat from the bone and chop it into small pieces. Return the meat to the pot.

5. After that, add the rinsed lentils and diced tomatoes (with their juices) to the pot. Stir to combine. If the ham bone soup lentil looks too thick, you can add more broth or water to reach your desired consistency.

6. Let the lentil soup with ham bone simmer, uncovered, for 15 more minutes, or until everything gets heated through (as the canned lentils are already cooked). Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

7. Taste the ham bone lentil soup and add more salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaf from the soup before serving. 

8. Your ham and lentil soup recipe is now ready. Simply pour the lentil soup with ham bone into bowls. Optionally, garnish it with chopped fresh parsley.

Substitution of Ingredients

If you want to make some ingredient substitutions, Spanish soup recipes in general are a great option because they often have a flexible ingredient list that can accommodate various substitutions without compromising flavor. 

First, you can make this Spanish lentil soup recipe with a different mix of veggies, such as diced potatoes, diced zucchini, or chopped kale, to add extra texture and flavor. 

To play with the flavor profile of this lentil soup with ham bone, you could enhance the seasoning by incorporating smoked paprika, a splash of sherry vinegar, or a pinch of saffron threads for a more complex taste profile reminiscent of traditional Spanish cuisine.

Instead of ham bone you can prepare this as a lentil soup recipe with ham, and remember that you can use your favorite type of lentil (green, brown, etc.).

Try the orange lentil soup if you love lentils and are looking for a healthy and nutritious Spanish soup.

Do you want to try some other hearty recipes with a different ingredient combination? Then you must check our delicious Spanish bean soup with chorizo or the classic Spanish baked bean soup.

Tips on Serving Lentil Soup With Ham Bone

Like most lentil soup recipes with ham, this one works as a mesmerizing main dish to be served as a hearty and satisfying meal on its own. 

If you are looking to impress your guests, or you simply want to elevate the dish, consider topping the soup with a dollop of creamy yogurt or a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese for a delightful finishing touch.

To make this soup even more filling, you can copy other Spanish soups recipes such as the gluten-free chicken noodle soup or the alphabet soup, and serve this one with a portion of cooked pasta.

Lastly, serve the lentil soup with ham bone paired with crusty bread for dipping into the savory broth, or grated parmesan cheese for a delicious added layer of flavor. 

How to Store Lentil Soup With Ham Bone

If you are planning on storing the ham hock and lentil soup for later, then you have to let it cool to room temperature once you finish making it, and then place it in a covered container.

After that, you will be able to store the lentil soup with ham bone for up to 3 days in the fridge or 45 days in the freezer, and it will preserve its original flavor and texture.

To reheat the lentil soup with ham bone, simply transfer it to a saucepan and warm it over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. 

As a different alternative, you can reheat individual portions of the lentil soup with ham hock in the microwave, stirring halfway through, until piping hot.

For more authentic Spanish soup recipes that you can prepare and store for later, consider trying variations like Spanish leek and celery soup, Spanish pea soup, and Spanish bean tomato soup. 

Recipe Card: Lentil Soup With Ham Bone

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