“Hey EJ, Let’s Make Lentil Soup.”

“I wanna help too Daddy,”chimes Liesel.

“Okay Bugaboo, get your apron on,” Dad replies.

Lentil soup garnished with Parmesan.

This is a hearty soup that uses the pork gelatin left over from making ribs. The gelatin brings a nice body to what can otherwise be thin soup. Here’s what you will need:

 A mixture of premium and bargain brands. 

Dad is a cheapskate and will not pay a higher price for something 

unless he can appreciate its qualitative difference.

1 cup each of chopped onion, celery hearts, and carrot. That’s no mirepoix; that’s outstanding poix!

2 cups of vegetable broth.

1 cup water

2 cups pork gelatin.

4 chicken bouillon cubes (assuming 1 cube per cup of liquid)

½ lbs. of lentils.

2 tbsp. EVOO or butter

5 whole bay leaves

A pot large enough to hold the soup and a skillet to sweat the veg.

It need not be this big. This pot is about 1/5th full.

Sweat the mirepoix in the butter or oil in the skillet. Don’t allow the onion to brown. Use low heat. Sweat until the onion is translucent.

Rinse and sort the lentils. Pebbles are a little too high in fiber.

Bring the liquid ingredients, bay leaves, and bouillon to a boil. Boil until bouillon dissolves. Add the veg and lentils. Bring back to a boil, and then simmer until everything is soft, a couple of hours.

Serve with freshly cracked black peppercorns and or Tabasco sauce. Alternatively, dice up a cooked ham steak and mix into the soup or top with Parm cheese.

 

“Did you forget the salt Dad?” inquires EJ.

“No Buddy, there is plenty of salt in the gelatin and bouillon. Remember the gelatin came from the ribs we made. Remember also that we brined those ribs in sugar and salt. There will be plenty of salt in our soup, but you can add more if you like after you have tasted it.”

 

Notes:

The liquid to lentil ratio is important. While simmering, the lentils will rehydrate and absorb lots of water. Make sure you have enough liquid in the pot for them to do this, or they might burn on the bottom of the pot.

This recipe could be done in a pressure cooker to shorten the cook time. Follow your cooker’s directions for beans.