Sausage and Lentil Soup

Sausage and Lentil Soup

This recipe was inspired from the vegetable and lentil soup found in one of my new cook books. We decided adding sausage would make it delicious. It was very filling and very delicious! Wonderful for a cold day.

• brown lentils, 2 cups
• olive oil
• 4 sausages
• 1 yellow onion, chipped
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 piece of celery, chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped
• chicken broth, 4 cups
• whole or diced can of tomato
• smoked paprika, 1 tsp
• ground cumin, 1 tsp
• thyme, 1 tsp
• salt, 1/2 tsp
• ground pepper, 1/4 tsp
• baby spinach or kale (or both!), a large handful
• red wine, 1/3 cup

Rinse lentils under cold running water and drain thoroughly. Put aside. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Remove sausage from its casing and add sausage to the pot. Break it up into bite sized pieces. Cook on medium heat. Once the sausage begins to brown, add onions, carrot and celery. Allow it to cook until softened, approximately 5-8 minutes. Add garlic, paprika, cumin and thyme. Cook for another 1-2 minutes. Poor in wine to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Add in can of tomatoes and its juices. If using a can of whole tomatoes, break them down with the spoon into bite sized chunks. Add lentils and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer gently until lentils are tender. Approximately 20 minutes. Chop up kale or spinach (or both) and stir into soup. Cook for another minute. 

Garnished with parsley and fresh parmesan. Served with baguette (broiled with a drizzle of olive oil on top and then rubbed with garlic). 

FUN FACT: lentils are an excellent source of fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar. Extremely rich in heart-healthy nutrients like folate and potassium. Kale is a source of antioxidant known to prevent cancer and promote eye health and detoxification. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K. Contains nutrients to help build strong bones.