A Warm and Easy Winter Meal:  Sausage and Lentil Soup

There’s nothing like walking in from a cold winter’s day and being greeted by the savory scents of soup wafting from the kitchen.  Sausage and lentil and soup creates a hearty meal guaranteed to warm your soul.

Soups are perfect for busy families, too.  They’re easy to prepare and can be served whenever it’s most convenient for each individual person.  So no matter if the family is busy with holiday shopping or getting back from the slopes, a nice pot of soup is the perfect meal to serve your entire group.

Ingredients:

• ½ pound of TBS sweet Italian sausage
• 1 large sweet onion (chopped)
• 1 stalks celery (finely chopped)
• 2 carrots (chopped)
• 1 small zucchini (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon garlic (chopped)
• 2 cups dry lentils (rinsed)
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 large can diced tomatoes (28 ounces, undrained)
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ¼ teaspoon thyme
• ¼ teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Brown the sausage in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion and celery. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent (approximately 3 minutes).  Add garlic and sauté an additional minute.
3. Stir in lentils, zucchini, carrots, chicken broth, tomatoes, and seasonings.
4. Bring soup to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and allow the soup to simmer for 2 ½ to 3 hours until lentils become tender.

Optional:

Add a little pasta to the soup for additional heartiness. Once your soup is nearly done, simply add about ½ pound of ditalini pasta.  Allow the pasta to cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pasta is the right consistency for your taste.

Select locally sourced meats to make this Sausage and Lentil soup amazing.

Know what’s in your food.  Choose locally sourced meats from The Butcher Shop.  Just let our team members know you’re making this recipe, and we’ll help you pick out the perfect ingredients for your family.