Sausage Lentil Soup

Hearty, satisfying, and flavorful, this isn't your everyday appetizer soup. All you need is a crusty baguette for a filling one-pot meal that rivals any weeknight dinner. Plus, it's just so cozy!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 55

Soak Time (optional) 2

Total Time 3

Servings

Calories 735kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

1 cup (200g) dry brown lentils
2 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil
1 pound (450g) smoked sausage sliced
2 carrots, peeled, halved, and sliced
2 stalks celery chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon (1g) fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
2 tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon (6g) Creole seasoning
1 teaspoon (4.5g) bouillon powder
6 cups (1.4L) chicken broth
1 cup (30g) fresh spinach
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Soak lentils in cold water for about two hours or in boiling water for 20 minutes before cooking.
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot, cook the sausage, stirring frequently, until brown, 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Next, add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf to the pot, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and the garlic is fragrant, 3-5 minutes.
Then add tomatoes, lentils, Creole seasoning, bouillon powder, and broth. Mix to thoroughly combine, and then bring to a boil. Return the cooked sausage, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover pot, reduce heat, and simmer until lentils are tender, 35-40 minutes.
Stir in the spinach and pepper flakes, and simmer for 3-5 more minutes until the spinach wilts. Remove the bay leaf and serve warm in a bowl with a slice of crusty bread.

Notes

Keep an eye on your lentils as they cook, and give them a taste test every now and again. You want them to be tender but not overcooked unless you prefer a thicker soup.
Lentils absorb a lot of liquid while cooking. If the soup starts looking dry at any point during cooking, add more broth or water until you achieve your desired consistency.
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition