This hearty lentil soup is called potaje de lentejas in Spanish. It's a thick soup with smoked ham and vegetables.

INGREDIENTS Lentils, olive oil, onion, carrot, garlic, tomato paste, spices, smoked pork, chicken broth, water, potato, pumpkin

Use a large, heavy pot. Cook the onions and carrots in olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent.

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Next, add the garlic, tomato paste, salt, oregano, cumin, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stir frequently.

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Now that we created a nice flavor base, add the ham shanks (or ham hocks) to the pot. Arrange them so that they are not overlapping.

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Add the chicken broth, water and bay leaf to the pot. Raise the heat and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat, cover and cook 10 minutes.

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Add the lentils to the pot. Cover and cook for 20 minutes until the lentils start to soften. Stir occasionally.

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Remove the smoked ham from the pot and let them cool a bit. Chop into bite sized pieces when they are cool enough to handle.

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Add the potatoes and pumpkin to the pot. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes. When the ham is chopped add it back to the pot.

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When the vegetables and lentils are tender, remove the bay leaf and discard. Taste and add salt if needed. Serve and enjoy!