ITALIAN NEW YEAR'S EVE LENTILS

Italian New Year's Eve Lentils image

Provided by Daniel Rinaldi @Danthefireman

Number Of Ingredients 16

1/4 cup(s) olive oil
4 - fresh ham hocks
1 medium peeled yellow onion
4 clove(s) peeled garlic
3 - carrots (cut into thirds)
3 stalk(s) celery (cut into thirds)
8 sprig(s) italian flat leaf parsley
2 tablespoon(s) kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon(s) kosher salt
3/4 tablespoon(s) fresh ground pepper
2 - bay leaves
3 quarts+2 - water
1 pound(s) lentils
3/4 cup(s) long grain rice, uncooked
2-8 ounce can(s) hunts tomato sauce
- pecorino romano cheese

Steps:

1) Put oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Put in the ham hocks meat side down and cook until brown. Then add all the vegetables, herbs, salt and pepper. Cook for ten minutes.
2) Add water to the pot and bring to a boil. Once it starts to boil reduce to a simmer, and cover, then cook for 1 hour.
3) After an hour of cooking time add the lentils and cook for another hour.
4) While the lentils are cooking, cook the rice according to the package directions and set aside.
5) Once the lentils have finished cooking remove and discard the herbs and vegetables.
6) Remove the ham hocks and shred all the meat and add to the soup.
7) Add the rice and tomato sauce to the soup and cook for five minutes, then shut the heat. You might have to break up some clumps of rice with the back of a spoon, but they will come apart easily.