Red lentil soup with ham is one of those simple recipes that's perfect for lazy evenings when you want a hot, comforting, nutritious meal in under an hour, with very little effort.
"Oh, my! I made this soup with the
This easy soup recipe includes red lentils and ham that are cooked in a paprika and cumin-flavored broth and topped with spoonfuls of smoky
Most of the ingredients are long-shelf life pantry items, making it as convenient to make as it is delicious.
"This is the best lentil soup that I've ever made. The flavor is amazing. Love the addition of rice. I didn't have time to make the Aleppo oil so I just sprinkled the top with Aleppo and some extra virgin olive oil." - Kim
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What is Aleppo Pepper ?
I love, love, love
Aleppo Pepper comes form a chili known as the Halaby Pepper. After Halaby peppers are picked, the seed are removed and the peppers are dried, then ground into
Traditionally,
Aleppo Pepper is Mild and Flavorful
The thing I love most about
Ask anyone in my family, and they'll tell you I have an incurable habit of going overboard with chilies and peppers, and often serve food that makes steam come out of our ears. The problem is that I LOVE the flavor that red peppers add to foods and want to add as much of that flavor as possible.
With Aleppo, I can add twice as much and get four times the flavor without burning off our tastebuds. 🙌 And this, my friends, is why I am currently obsessed with the stuff.
In this dish, simmering
Why Aleppo Pepper and Red Lentils are the Perfect Match
I've never met a lentil I didn't love, but if you're wanting to cook up a pot of lentils in a hurry, red are where it's at.
Red lentils are split into halves and their outer covering is removed. This allows them to cook much faster than green lentils. Red lentils also have a slightly nutty flavor, while green lentils are on the peppery side.
I almost always have both red and green lentils in my pantry and love them both equally. But, in this dish, I went for red lentils for three reasons:
- The Color. I just love how the bright red
Aleppo Pepper oil and sprinkle of green parsley looks over a bowl of red lentils. - The Flavor. The nuttiness of red lentils are a perfect match to the other smoky, spicy flavors in this dish.
- The Timing. I really wanted this soup to be one of those things that tastes like it's been cooking for hours, even though it requires relatively little time to prepare. Red lentils are falling apart and so tender they are almost creamy in about 30 minutes, making them the perfect choice.
Leave Out the Ham To Make This Lentil Soup Vegan
In this recipe, the ham is really more of a condiment, supporting the flavor in the lentils and
Having said that, if you don't eat meat or just don't have any ham on hand, you can most certainly just leave it out.
If you do, I would suggest increasing the amount of smoked paprika slightly and, if possible, adding a dash or two of liquid smoke. Another good option is to use Hickory Smoked Sea Salt. Both liquid smoke and smoked salt will add a lovely meaty, smoky flavor without the need to add any ham.
And, if you're looking for another vegan recipe that includes lentils, this Mediterranean lentil soup is not only healthy, it's absolutely delicious.
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📖 Recipe
Red Lentil Soup with Ham and Aleppo Pepper Oil
Red lentils are cooked until tender and creamy in a broth flavored with paprika, cumin, and a few pieces of ham, then topped with bright, flavorful Aleppo Pepper Oil and fresh parsley.
This simple recipe is one of my favorite things to make on lazy evenings when I want a hot, comforting, nutritious meal in under an hour, without putting in a lot of work.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 cup red lentils
- ¼ cup long grain rice
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt (more to taste)
- ¾ lb ham pieces, chopped into bite size pieces (*see note)
- ½ cup Aleppo pepper oil
- 1 large lemon
- ¾ cup fresh flat leaf (Italian) parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Add butter and chopped onion to a large saucepan and set it over medium heat. Cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5-6 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute longer.
- Add tomato paste, paprika, and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
- Stir in lentils, rice, 5 cups of water, 2 teaspoon salt, and the pieces of ham. Raise the heat and bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat, cover the pan, and let simmer for about 30 minutes, until the lentils are soft and breaking down. Lift the lid to stir from time to time and adjust heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
- While the soup simmers, make the Aleppo pepper oil.
- Remove the soup from the heat and stir in about 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Taste, and add more salt and more lemon juice if desired.
- Serve soup in bowls topped with a drizzle of Aleppo pepper oil and a sprinkle of fresh, chopped parsley.
Notes
- Use any kind of ham you like in this soup, but thicker chunks work best. I especially love to use leftover scraps. You can also use a hambone or two, especially if they are on meaty.
- If you want to leave out the ham, I suggest increasing the amount of smoked paprika slightly and, if possible, adding a dash or two of liquid smoke. Another good option is to use Hickory Smoked Sea Salt. Both liquid smoke and smoked salt will add a lovely meaty, smoky flavor without the need to add any ham.
- If your local supermarket doesn't carry Aleppo Pepper, you can purchase it online. The brand you'll find in my pantry is The Spice Way Crushed Aleppo Pepper
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 431Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 1905mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 8gSugar: 5gProtein: 26g
Michelle says
Oh, my! I made this soup with the Aleppo pepper oil last tonight, and it’s fantastic! I had smoked and glazed a ham, so I used some of it in the soup. I’m loving it. Thank you for this recipe!
RebeccaBlackwell says
I am so happy to hear that you liked this recipe Michelle! I'm making it later this week and I wish I had some of your smoked ham to put in it! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment for me. I truly appreciate it!
Kim says
This is the best lentil soup that I've ever made. The flavor is amazing. Love the addition of rice. I didn't have time to make the Aleppo oil so I just sprinkled the top with Aleppo and some extra virgin olive oil.
RebeccaBlackwell says
I am so happy to hear that you liked this recipe Kim! This is one of those recipes for which I always have the ingredients and make it often. We love the flavor too! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment for me! I truly appreciate it!
Mel says
This is a hearty, healthy and very flavorful soup. We love how thick it is, but the Aleppo Pepper really takes it over the top. So delicious!