RECIPES
Lentil soup with sausages
By Anthea Dawson
Somehow in my house of picky eaters, lentils have passed the taste test and nothing beats a hearty lentil soup for lunch on a crisp spring day. With a warmed crusty baguette, there’s nothing better to warm you up on those rainy April days. This soup can also be more of a dinnertime stew, depending on how much stock you add. It freezes really well too, just be sure to add more stock as you reheat it on the stove.
Ingredients
MAKES 6 SERVINGS
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb spicy Italian sausages, casings removed
- 1 large white onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 cups of Puy lentils (or other green lentils), rinsed under cold water
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1 can (28 oz) of pureed tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large thick bottom pot over medium heat. Add the sausages and cook while breaking them up with a wooden spoon until they are no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Scoop out the cooked sausage meat with a slotted spoon into a bowl and set aside. Discard the oil left in the pot.
Heat the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery and garlic and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and the lentils and mix to incorporate everything. Add the wine and stir, scraping the bottom to get any browned bits.
Add the stock and pureed tomatoes and bring the soup up to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the bay leaf. Let the soup simmer for 30-35 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through.
Add the chopped parsley and balsamic vinegar and season the soup well (I find that it can take a lot of salt but be careful not to overdo it!) Garnish with more chopped parsley!