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Cozy Lentil Sausage Soup

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A warm, hearty, and easy-to-make soup combining smoky Italian sausage with earthy lentils and fresh vegetables, perfect for comforting weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (sweet or spicy)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup brown lentils (French or Spanish recommended)
  • 6 cups chicken broth (homemade or low-sodium)
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into small, evenly sized pieces. Remove sausage from casings and crumble into bite-sized pieces. (10 minutes prep)
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking apart, until browned and cooked through, about 7–8 minutes. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving fat in pot.
  3. Add another tablespoon of olive oil if needed. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook over medium heat until softened and fragrant, about 6–7 minutes. Add minced garlic in the last minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Stir in smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add rinsed lentils and stir to coat with spices and aromatics. Cook 1–2 minutes.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and diced tomatoes with juices. Add bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30–35 minutes until lentils are tender but not falling apart. Stir occasionally.
  6. About 5 minutes before done, add browned sausage back to pot to meld flavors.
  7. Remove bay leaves. Stir in 1 tablespoon vinegar. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot with crusty bread or a simple salad.

Notes

Brown the sausage well for deep flavor. Rinse lentils to remove dust and prevent foaming. Simmer gently to avoid mushy lentils. Add vinegar at the end to brighten flavors. Soup tastes better the next day. Thin with broth or water if too thick when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: lentil soup, sausage soup, comfort food, easy dinner, hearty soup, weeknight meal, gluten-free, cozy soup

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/cozy-lentil-sausage-soup-recipe-easy-hearty-comfort-meal-guide/