Today in Poland, the Poles love lentils in a variety of dishes, from pierogi to soup.  Here is a Polish lentil soup recipe that tastes amazing with a good smocked ham hock, but you can leave it out and make the soup vegetarian if you chose. A typical complaint is that lentil soup tends to get mushy, so make sure to add your lentils last so you don’t overcook them.  This soup recipe is a wonderful hearty meal that can be enjoyed for several days.

Polish Lentil Soup Recipe

• 1 small smoked ham hock
• 2 bay leaves
• 3-4 parsnips
• 1 leek (cleaned and chopped)
• 1 celery root with greens
• 1 box chopped mushrooms
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-2 teaspoons thyme
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds (mortar crushed)
• 1/2 can tomato paste
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili powder or paprika (optional)
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup lentils, picked and rinsed
• 1/4 cup soup pasta (optional)
• Organic sour cream as a topping