Slow Cooker Ham and Lentil Soup

Photo courtesy of the Cooking Corner.

     Lentils are not something that I often cook with, like ever. But when a friend of mine gave me a bag of these little bean-type things, I was up for the challenge. So just after the holidays, when there was extra ham to go around, I experimented with lentils. This is after all a New Years tradition.

     I found these little beans tender and absorbed the flavors well. They were easy and faster to cook with than more standard beans and multiplied like little rabbits. A little goes a long way. This combination worked out very well and the cumin added a nice edge.

Slow Cooker Ham and Lentil Soup

1/2 bag (8 oz.) dry lentils, rinsed and sorted

Soup ingredients.

1 cup chopped ham
8 baby carrots, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 medium onion, chopped

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 can tomato paste (optional)

1/4 cup sherry, broth or beer (optional)

3/4 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. thyme

1 bay leaf

ground cracked pepper

Kosher salt

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low 8-10 hours.

Serves 6-8.

Related articles

• Protein Packed Black Bean and Lentil Soup
• Slow Cooker Red Lentil Soup
• Traditional New Years Dinners
• Lemony Red Lentil Soup
• New Year's Lentil Soup