Legendary Lentil Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. butter
1 c. diced smoked ham or turkey
8 to 10 c. stock
1 lb. lentils
2 to 3 small dried chilies
pinch of dried savory or marjoram
1/4 c. olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, diced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, minced

Preparation

Saute
meat
in butter. Add stock, lentils, chilies and marjoram
and
simmer
about
30 minutes.
Saute vegetables in oil,
adding
garlic
at
the
end.
Add
to pot with meat and stock.
Melt
3
tablespoons
butter;
add 3 tablespoons flour and stir
until
light brown.\tWhisk in 2 cups stock.\tAdd to large pot.
Add 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar, freshly ground pepper and salt to taste.\tSimmer 30 minutes.
Adjust seasoning.
Serve with croutons and yogurt or sour cream.