Smoked Ham Hock and Lentil Soup

★★★☆☆
Prep: 45 mins Cook: 135 mins Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 (10-ounce) smoked ham hocks2 (10-ounce) smoked ham hocks
  • 3 quarts plus 3 cups water, divided2.84 L plus 3 cups water, divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil15 ml olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped Spanish onion240 ml chopped Spanish onion
  • 1 cup sliced okra240 ml sliced okra
  • 1 lemongrass stalk, chopped1 lemongrass stalk, chopped
  • 1 small habanero chile, chopped1 small habanero chile, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped ginger15 ml chopped ginger
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt10 ml kosher salt
  • 2 cups dried red or yellow lentils480 ml dried red or yellow lentils
  • 1/2 cup sliced scallions120 ml sliced scallions
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme8 ml chopped fresh thyme

Instructions

  1. Boil ham hocks in 3 quarts water, simmer 2 hours until tender. Remove meat, chop; skim stock.
  2. Sauté onion, okra, lemongrass, habanero, ginger 4-6 minutes. Add lentils, 3 cups water, 3 cups stock. Boil, then simmer 7-14 minutes.
  3. Blend 1 cup soup until smooth, stir back in. Add scallions, thyme, chopped ham.
Wine Pairing: Medium White — Gewürztraminer — Aromatic Gewürztraminer handles the lemongrass and habanero.