Lovely Easy Ham and Vegetable Soup

Not really lentil soup, not really ham soup but good soup and no bones about it, well almost

Fine dice 3 med carrots. 4 celery stalks. 1 med/large onion
Fine chop 1 clove single bulb garlic
Dessertspoon olive oil
1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
1 Simon Howie smoked ham hough
Couple sprigs thyme fine chopped, sprig rosemary fine chooped ( keep the stocks for the pot )
2 Bay leaves, 1 knorr ham stock cube, 1 veg stock cube


Put the carrots. celery, onion and garlic in a heavy 2 litre pan and sweat on a lowish heat for 5 mins
Add in 1 1/2 litres water
Add ham hough
Bring to rolling boil, turn down heat add seasoning cover and simmer for 50 - 60 mins

At this stage remove the ham hough and the soup can now be served

OR

You can skin the ham hough, shave some of the ham off, chop it very very finely and add to pot

Then either serve as is, top up with a wee bit water if it is too rich or add 1 litre more of water
and another 1 of each ham and veg stock cubes. You can also add some dried lentils ( about 1/2 a cup )
to the pot at this stage and simmer for another 20 mins if you want to.

Don't forget to deeply score and season the skin from the hough with a sharp knife and little salt before grilling or frying for a tasty treat.

It's no fancy but very tasty...

ENJOY !