Sausage & Lentil Soup

I happened to come across this recipe on Pinterest for Smitten Kitchens sausage and lentil soup. I’ve never really cooked with lentils that much – but I’m beginning to look for recipes to use them in. Not only are they good for you, but they are a cheap ingredient as well! My twin sister has made a lentil bolognese. Marzia from A Little Spice Jar has made lentil zucchini boats that look amazing. Jo from Jo Cooks makes red lentil hummus – perfect for your upcoming Super Bowl Party!

So many options for lentils! It’s finally feeling like winter in Chicago after mild temps – tomorrow will be 7 degrees on my way to work….so having this nice bowl of soup to eat at lunchtime is going to be amazing! This recipe made a lot of soup – it said 6 servings – but I think it’s more like 8 servings.

I also used hot Italian sausage for the sausage and added a little crushed red pepper flakes to make it spicy. My 14 year old daughter kept coming in the kitchen to stir the soup and I think this is the first time I’ve made something with lentils and she loved it!

Sausage & Lentil Soup This recipe is based off of Smitten Kitchen's sausage lentil soup with Swiss chard.

Servings Prep Time

6people 10minutes

Cook Time

45minutes

Servings Prep Time 6people 10minutes

Cook Time 45minutes

Ingredients

• 1tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 white onionchopped
• 2stalks celerydiced
• 4 carrotsdiced
• 2 sausage linksremoved of casing
• 6 cups water
• 128 oz. diced tomatoes
• 1tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1pinch crushed red pepper flakes
• 2cloves garlicchopped
• 1cup brown lentils

Instructions

1. In a large pot, add a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the sausage links (casing removed) and cook on low heat, breaking up the sausage into small pieces for about 5 minutes. Add all the veggies - the carrots, celery, garlic and onion and cook, stirring frequently for another 5 minutes. Add 6 cups of water, salt and pepper and crushed garlic and the can of crushed tomatoes. Add the dried lentils to the soup and simmer for about 45 minutes until the lentils are cooked through. Stir occasionally. If it thickens up too much, add a little more water - but I like a thicker soup.

Recipe Notes

Have you cooked with lentils before? What's your favorite thing to make with them?