Lentil and Sausage Soup: High in Protein and Fiber

The inspiration for making lentil and sausage soup came from a friend of mine since it is one of her husband’s favorites.

I picked up a package at the store and what do you know, but they had a recipe for lentil and sausage soup right on the back, so I had to try it. Plus lentils are really cheap – less than $1.50 per package.

The lentils absorbed the delicious flavor of the sausage and broth making it quite tasty. The celery provides a nice crunch and adds texture to the soup.

Lentils are also very nutritious, see the health benefits of lentils below. This is one I’ll be making again.

Time to Prepare:

20 minutes prep & 1 hour to cook

Ingredients

• 2 T olive oil
• 2 cups sliced leeks
• 1 T minced garlic
• 1 T fresh thyme
• 1/2 t ground cumin
• 1.5 cups chopped carrots
• 1.5 cups chopped celery
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 package lentils
• 2 T tomato paste
• 1 pound Kielbasa sausage

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot or dutch oven over medium-high heat
2. Add garlic, thyme, leeks, and cumin.
3. Cook until the leeks are tender, about 3-5 minutes
4. Add the celery and carrots, then cook for another 5 minutes.
5. Add chicken broth, lentils, and tomato paste. Stir well
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 50 minutes. Stir occasionally.
7. Slice the kielbasa lengthwise, then cut 1/2 inch pieces.
8. Cook for 10 additional minutes, then serve.

Cooking Tips

• Don’t overcook the lentils by letting the soup simmer too long. This will cause the skin to separate and the lentils may become grainy.
• Substitute 1 onion for the leeks if desired.
• If you don’t have fresh thyme, use 1 teaspoon dried. For almost all herbs 1 tablespoon fresh = 1 teaspoon dried.
• You can use Italian sausage instead of kielbasa if you choose.

Health Benefits of Lentils

Lentils are a legume or bean growing in pods of one or two lentils seeds each. They are easy to use in recipes since they don’t require soaking plus they are full of nutrition.

High in both soluble and insoluble fiber, lentils help the digestive tract. They are rich in vitamins B1 and B6, zinc, potassium, and iron.

Lentils have many health benefits that include: boosting energy, stabilizing blood sugar, reducing cholesterol, and keeping the heart-healthy. If you’ve never tried them, why not give this recipe a try?

Recipe Source: Essential Everyday