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Finished lentil and Italian sausage soup

Lentil & Italian Sausage Soup

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb. Lentils dry, packaged
  • 1 lb. Italian Sausage mild or spicy
  • 1 White Onion, peeled and diced
  • 3 Roma Tomatoes, peeled and diced (or 1 can chopped tomatoes)
  • 2 - 3 cloves Garlic
  • 2 tsp Oregano dried
  • 1 tsp Fennel Seed optional, but I definitely suggest this for spicy sausage
  • 2 Bay Leaves
Liquids
  • 32 oz Chicken Stock
  • Water (or stock), enough to cover lentils by one inch
  • Plus more water as it cooks down
  • Note: Just using water and a bouillon powder or a bouillon paste like Better Than Bouillon is a good way to accomplish this step
  • Note: I think I wound up adding 5 cups of liquid in addition to the initial 32oz, so 32oz + 40oz = 72oz of liquid total
Other Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp Oil as needed, for sauteing ingredients
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Stock Pot or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Skillet

Method
 

  1. Rinse lentils and remove any small rocks, if necessary.
  2. Add lentils to a large pot, then fill with either chicken stock, water, or a mixture of the two until the liquid comes to about 1 inch above the lentils.  I find that water and Better Then Bouillon is an easy way to accomplish this.
    Note: By the end of the cooking process, I think I had added a total of 72oz (or 9 cups, or 2.12L) of liquid to the pot. Add as you go though; lentils might have different absorption rates, especially if you've soaked them beforehand.
  3. In a skillet, heat some oil and add diced onion, chopped tomatoes, and garlic.  Add the oregano and optional fennel now as well, then cook until onions are softened. Add to pot.
  4. Add Italian sausage to skillet and cook until browned. Add to pot.
  5. Once all ingredients have been added to the pot, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
  6. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, until the lentils are soft.
  7. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, then stir it all into the soup.
  8. Serve, perhaps with some crusty bread on the side.