Alsatian Lentil Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. green or brown lentils, rinsed
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 lb. diced smoked ham
2/3 c. finely diced carrots
1/2 c. diced onion
1 c. diced peeled turnip
1/2 c. finely diced celery
1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
3 1/2 qt. chicken stock
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1/3 c. minced parsley

Preparation

Put lentils in bowl.
Cover with cold water.
Soak for 2 hours.
Drain.
Melt butter in 6-quart soup kettle.
Add ham and toss over low heat 3 minutes.
Add carrots, onion, turnip and celery and stir until vegetables begin to soften, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in lentils, garlic and stock.
Heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, 45 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
If soup is thin, remove 2 cups vegetables and puree in blender and stir back into soup.