Smoked Rib and Lentil Soup Recipe with Celery and Carrot

Name: Smoked Rib and Lentil Soup Recipe with Celery and Carrot
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: Smoked ribs 300 g; Lentils (black or green) 100 g; Onion 1-2; Carrot 1; Celery stalks 1-2; Vegetable oil 1 tbsp; Hot pepper optional; Salt, black pepper, bay leaf to taste

A tasty, hearty soup with smoked meat and lentils is one of our favorites in home cooking. It is a bit like the Turkish soup “ezogelin”, which we make with red lentils, tomato and bulgur. The main vegetables are onion, carrot and celery stalks, which give enough vegetable body that the dish isn't too thin. For this soup we use dark or green lentils. A hot soup like this is especially welcome in cold weather.

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Ingredients

2 servings

Smoked ribs 300 g
Lentils (black or green) 100 g
Onion 1-2
Carrot 1
Celery stalks 1-2
Vegetable oil 1 tbsp
Hot pepper optional
Salt, black pepper, bay leaf to taste

Step-by-step recipe

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Homemade smoked meat and lentil soup is simple to make, although it needs a little preparation. Lentils cook down very well. But if you're not sure, soak them in cold water for a couple of hours. You can use smoked pork, beef or lamb ribs, as you like. What matters is that they aren't too fatty and have enough meat on them. You can use regular onion or shallot, and fresh or dried chili, which is optional.
Cut the ribs into individual bones with meat, between the ribs. If the bones are no longer than 6-8 cm, you can leave them whole; longer ones should be cut into pieces. Pour 1 l of water into a pot and add the cut ribs, a bay leaf and, if you like, a dried chili pod, which greatly improves the taste of the soup. Put the pot on the heat and bring the water to a boil. Simmer the broth over low heat for 40-45 mins.
When the broth is almost ready, peel the onion and carrot. Cut the vegetables fairly coarsely. Cut the celery stalks as well. Heat a little vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the cut vegetables in it. The carrot should turn soft and the onion should start to brown. If you decided to add fresh chili to the soup, fry it together with the other vegetables.
Add the fried vegetables to the pot with the broth. When the water comes back to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer the broth with the smoked meat and vegetables for 15 mins. It's important that the broth doesn't bubble hard, just a weak, barely noticeable simmer. Then add the lentils to the soup, draining the water first if you soaked them. Dry lentils will cook down nicely in 10-15 mins. Don't rush the boil, so the lentils don't fall apart in the soup and the grains stay whole. Add salt and ground black pepper.
If needed, you can cook the soup longer. If you're happy with how done the lentils are, the dish is fully ready. Ladle the soup into bowls, dividing the rib bones and vegetables equally. Then pour in the liquid. If you like, sprinkle the soup with a pinch of finely chopped parsley. Serve the soup hot.
You can use not only smoked ribs but also soft smoked sausage, or really any smoked meat of your choice. What matters is the flavor and aroma that good smoked meat provides. It is best to serve the soup with toasted bread.