Scottish lentil soup

• ham or vegetable stock↗2 litres litres
• carrots↗2 medium

  chopped

• onion↗1

  chopped

• swede↗1 small

  chopped

• red lentils↗250g g
• potatoes↗2

  roughly chopped

• ham hock↗300g g

  roughly chopped or shredded (optional)

• chopped parsley

  to serve

• crusty bread↗

  to serve

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Pour the stock in a large saucepan with the carrots, onion, swede and lentils. Season well, then simmer over a medium heat for about 40 mins. Add the potatoes and cook for a further 20 mins until the potatoes have cooked through and the lentils have collapsed.

2. 2

   Stir in the ham, if using, and cook for a few minutes to reheat. Season to taste, scatter over the chopped parsley and serve with crusty bread.