Hearty Italian Sausage Lentil Soup
This Hearty Italian Sausage Lentil Soup is a warm and comforting dish inspired by popular Italian flavors. With a rich blend of spices and savory sausage, this soup offers a delightful culinary journey. Perfect for a family dinner or a cozy night in, it's nutritious, filling, and easy to make. Its texture and flavor are enhanced by pureeing a portion of the soup, creating a perfect balance of creamy and chunky consistencies.
9
Servings
N/A
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
carrot
1 large (finely diced)
celery
2 stalks (finely diced)
onion
1 large (finely diced)
garlic cloves
2 (finely diced)
olive oil
1 tablespoon (none)
hot Italian sausage
1 lb (casing removed)
chicken broth
8 cups (none)
diced tomatoes
28 ounce can (none)
dried lentils
2 cups (none)
salt
1 teaspoon (none)
black pepper
3/4 teaspoon (none)
crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon (none)
oregano
1/2 teaspoon (none)
thyme
1/2 teaspoon (none)
fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon (none)
bay leaf
1 (none)
Instructions
1
1. Begin by finely dicing the carrot, celery, onion, and garlic cloves, using a food processor if desired to achieve a size similar to that of the lentils.
2
2. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the diced vegetables until they are tender and aromatic.
3
3. Remove the sautéed vegetables from the pot and set them aside. In the same pot, add the Italian sausage, having removed it from its casing. Brown the sausage over medium heat, then drain off any excess fat.
4
4. Return the sautéed vegetables to the pot with the browned sausage, and pour in the chicken broth.
5
5. Add the canned diced tomatoes, dried lentils, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, fennel seed, and bay leaf to the pot, ensuring all ingredients are well combined.
6
6. Allow the soup to simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and have absorbed the flavors of the broth.
7
7. Carefully remove approximately one-third of the soup and puree it in a blender or using an immersion blender, then return the pureed mixture to the pot to enhance the texture.
8
8. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference, ensuring to remove the bay leaf before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hearty Italian Sausage Lentil Soup?
It is a warm and comforting dish inspired by popular Italian flavors featuring a rich blend of spices and savory sausage.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes approximately 9 servings.
What is the general description of this soup?
It is a nutritious, filling, and easy-to-make soup with a perfect balance of creamy and chunky consistencies.
What kind of sausage is recommended for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1 lb of hot Italian sausage.
How should the vegetables be prepared?
The carrot, celery, onion, and garlic cloves should be finely diced.
Why should the vegetables be diced to a specific size?
They should be diced to a size similar to that of the lentils to ensure a consistent texture throughout the soup.
What is the first cooking step for the vegetables?
Heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the diced vegetables until they are tender and aromatic.
Should the sausage be cooked in its casing?
No, the casing should be removed before browning the sausage in the pot.
What should be done with the excess fat after browning the sausage?
You should drain off any excess fat from the pot after the sausage has browned.
How much chicken broth is required for the soup?
The recipe requires 8 cups of chicken broth.
What size of canned tomatoes is used?
A 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes is needed.
How many lentils are used in this recipe?
The recipe uses 2 cups of dried lentils.
What seasonings are used for the flavor profile?
The soup uses salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, fennel seed, and a bay leaf.
How long should the soup simmer?
The soup should simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes.
How do you know when the lentils are cooked?
The lentils are done when they are tender and have absorbed the flavors of the broth.
How is the soup's texture enhanced?
The texture is enhanced by pureeing approximately one-third of the soup and then returning it to the pot.
What equipment can be used to puree the soup?
You can use either a standard blender or an immersion blender.
Is there anything that needs to be removed before serving?
Yes, you must remove the bay leaf before serving the soup.
Is this soup considered nutritious?
Yes, it is described as a nutritious and filling meal.
What type of oil is used for sautéing the vegetables?
The recipe uses 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
How many garlic cloves are included?
The recipe calls for 2 garlic cloves.
Which dried herbs are specified in the ingredients?
The recipe specifies dried oregano and dried thyme.
How much crushed red pepper flakes should be added?
You should add 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
What is the purpose of fennel seeds in this recipe?
Fennel seeds are added to enhance the savory Italian flavor profile of the soup.
What is the exact amount of salt recommended?
The recipe recommends 1 teaspoon of salt.
How much black pepper is used?
The recipe uses 3/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
Can a food processor be used for vegetable preparation?
Yes, a food processor can be used to achieve a fine dice on the vegetables.
What state should the vegetables reach during sautéing?
They should be sautéed until they are tender and aromatic.
When do you add the pureed portion back into the soup?
After pureeing one-third of the mixture, you return it to the pot to blend the consistencies.
Can the seasoning be adjusted at the end?
Yes, you should taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference after the soup has finished simmering.