Ham Soup with Lentils and Beans

Homemade soup stock prepared from ham bone, meat scraps, celery stalks, minced garlic, ginger, and chopped onions. Pinto beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, white beans, kidney beans, lentil soup, crushed tomatoes, lemon juice, and cooked pasta are stirred in and simmered before soup is ready for serving.

Ingredients -
1 Meaty Ham Bone and any leftover scraps of meat
1 (16 ounces) can Pinto Beans
1 (16 ounces) can Black Beans
1 (16 ounces) can Black-Eyed Peas
1 (16 ounces) can Great Northern White Beans
1 (16 ounces) can Red Kidney Beans
1 can Progresso Lentil Soup
6 quarts Water
2 medium Onions, coarsely chopped
1 (28 ounces) can Crushed Tomatoes
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Lemon, juiced
1 pinch of Dried Ginger
2 Celery Stalks, trimmed and split lengthwise
1/2 pound Cooked Ditalini Pasta, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
 
Preparation:

1. Add ham bone, meat scraps, celery stalks, minced garlic, ginger, and chopped onions in a large 10-quart stock pot.

2. Add approximately 6 quarts of water so the pot is about 3/4 full.

3. Place lid on pot slightly off-center to allow steam to escape.

4. Boil on medium-high heat for 3 hours, adding enough water every 1/2 hour to keep the pot at 3/4 full.

5. Remove ham bone and take off meat, cutting into small bits, discard fat.

6. Remove meat scraps and cut into small bits, discard fat. Remove celery stalks and discard. Replace lean meat into soup pot.

7. Drain water from all cans of beans and add to pot. Add lentil soup, crushed tomatoes, and lemon juice.

8. Reduce heat to medium.

9. In a separate pot, boil the ½ pound of Ditalini pasta until just tender.

10. Drain and add pasta to the soup pot.

11. Continue to cook on medium heat for 1/2 hour.

12. Reduce heat to simmer until ready to serve.

 



Lentil Soup Tip
Preparing Lentils for Cooking

Simple to prepare, simply sort through your dried lentils and remove any debris, rinse thoroughly with cold water in a strainer or colander and use as directed in your recipe. Lentils require 15 to 20 minutes in boiling liquid to soften.


Lentil Soup Tip
Rich in Protein

Lentils are low in calories, and low in fat. They are rich in vegetable protein, but lack methionine to be a complete protein. Add eggs, dairy or meat; nuts, seeds or grains to the lentil dish to allow the lentils to deliver a complete protein.

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