Lentil Sausage Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 large onion, sliced thin
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2/3 cup lentils
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 6 small celery ribs, sliced thin
• 12 ounces smoked sausage, sliced 3/4 inch thick
• 6 ounces swiss chard or 6 ounces spinach, washed and chopped
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 heat the olive oil in a 4 quart pan.
• 2 when hot add the garlic and onions and cook over medium heat until soft.
• 3 add stock, lentils, tomato paste, sugar, bay leaves and thyme.
• 4 cover the pot and cook about 35 minutes until the lentils are tender.
• 5 add the celery and sausage to the pot and cook for 10 more minutes.
• 6 stir the chard or spinach into the soup and remove the pot from the heat.
• 7 season to taste with salt and pepper.
• 8 i like a few sprinkles of red pepper flakes.
• 9 this soup can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 4 days; or it can be frozen.