Friday, November 7, 2008

Lentil Soup with Italian Sausage and Escarole


When the weather gets chilly there is nothing better than a big bowl of homemade soup for dinner!

Lentils are wonderful, as they don't have to be pre-soaked and cook up quickly as opposed to other beans, and by adding vegetables and sausage this becomes a complete and healthy meal.

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups lentils (11 ounces), rinsed well
5 cups water
3 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 bay leaf
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped, divided
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian sausage links,(or spicy hot sausage if you prefer) cut into slices
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste, OR one 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 pound escarole, rinsed well and chopped (4 cups packed)
salt and pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

Simmer lentils, water, broth, bay leaf, and half of the garlic in a 4-quart pot, uncovered, 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a wide heavy 5- to 6-quart pot over medium-high heat until it sizzles. Brown sausage, about 7 minutes. Transfer sausage with a slotted spoon to a bowl.

Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, carrots, celery, remaining garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste (or can of tomatoes) and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add sausage and lentils with cooking liquid and simmer, uncovered, until lentils are tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in escarole and cook until tender, about 5 -10 minutes. Stir in vinegar to taste and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Discard bay leaf and serve.

This makes 6 servings and tastes even better reheated the next day if you have leftovers.

I usually bake cornbread to serve along with the soup, or you can use croutons or biscuits if you prefer.

Buon Appetito--Enjoy Your Meal!


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40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pat, your wonderful stove is getting a workout. This time of year I love to cook. I will be out today for knee therapy and stop at the store for ingredients. Yum! Yum! I love all the recipes my blogger friends share. Most of all my dh does too.

I hope your cable change is a breeze today.

Hugs...Jeanne

Catherine said...

My favorite Soup!! And it is so much better the next day. Time to get out the soup pot.

Thanks Pat!

Cathy

Melissa Miller said...

This one sounds delicious and very healthy! Perfect for the cooler weather ahead.~Melissa

Louise said...

This looks absolutely delicious Pat, thick homemade soups are my favourite. I remember making a version of lentil soup at school which I remember went down really well at home. I would like to try your version, I very much like the look of the cornbread too. I must say I had to look escarole up, I haven't ever come across this vegetable before! x

Michele said...

I looove escarole but I haven't had it in a while. I think I'm going to need to add it to my grocery list now! Your soup looks heavenly!

Tracy said...

Simply scrumptious, Pat! I feel warmed to the cockles of my soul, just looking at this warm, nourishing dish...Terrific recipe--thank you! Hope all goes well with your cable and you're up and running again soon! Happy weekend, my friend ((HUGS))

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Um...YUM! I'm a veggie, but can so easily see making this with veggie sausage (and veg broth). In fact, I will and will let you know how it goes (p.s. I'm officially a Daring Baker now. Thanks for inspiring me!).

Thank you so, SO much for the award. It's truly an honor coming from you.

Have a great weekend, Pat! I hope Op Cable is a breeze.

Laura

Joanne Kennedy said...

Now I normally love what you cook but this one scared me. LOL Well it did. At first I thought snails when I read Escarole. Then I read it again and saw it wasn't snails. LOL I'm so silly.

Hugs,
Joanne

Anonymous said...

What a lovely recipe. I love bacon and lentil soup too. We've just eaten pork sausage soup/casserole Hubby has just barreled up the cider so the smell in the house is so full of Autumn. bit eye watering too as it was a scrumpy cider. LOL

Nola said...

I hope your service switches without a glitch! That soup looks wonderful! I've never made one with lentils, I might try to sneak it in on the guys.

Proud Italian Cook said...

I absolutely love this! I make it several times during the winter, mine with spicy sausage. Comforting and very satisfying, all in one bowl!

Strider said...

We make lentil soups and chilies a lot this time of year. Really good.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Pat, I read about your blog on Laura's (Shorehouse Chic), and she's right, I'm starving! May I come over for supper, please??? I'm a HUGE lentil soup lover!

I so enjoyed looking at those amazing houses you've posted on your NYC tours. I'm a big lover of the City. One of my dearest friends was at one time the public relations director for BAM. I always regretted not getting there to see her when she lived in a marvelous old brownstone. I'm an almost rabid preservationist... whether for large mansions or log cabins... so I hope to be back to visit and spend more time admiring those architectural gems.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Tara said...

Oh, gosh, Pat, that looks excellent...and the way NY has been gray all week, Friday night with a bowl of soup after a long week is just right!

:))
Tara

Rosie's Whimsy said...

This looks yummy, Pat. Perfect for the cold weather days ahead!

Darius T. Williams said...

I bet this is really good!!!

-DTW
www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

Melissa Miller said...

Thank you Pat! I knew you're blog was one of my favorites right away with the Italy connection.
I love all things Italian.
~Have a great one. Melissa

Anonymous said...

You have the most fabulous food treats for us. That soup sounds so good. I will copy that recipe and give it a try! It was very cold here in KC,MO today--with a strong wind that made it seem even colder! We've had the most perfect fall, so I guess it is time to open the door to Old Man Winter! dana

Cynthia said...

This looks so hearty.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful soup! Especially with the "skaadole!" haha

Unknown said...

I love soups...and it's that time of the year! Thanks for posting this recipe!
Diane

Bo said...

Oh. goody...I have a new blogging buddy...you! Right about now I could sure use a big bowl of your Lentil & Sausage soup...even though it's only 7:30ish AM here..I've never had it, but it sure sounds like my kind of eating!
I'm adding you to my blog list...
Happy wk-end! ;-) Bo

Anonymous said...

Yum, yum, yum!

Paz ;-)

Alexandra MacVean said...

Hi Pat...hope you have a great weekend!! :)

by Danie said...

Hello Pat,this recipe looks great and easy to do, on the top of that, I love lentils, but always buy them already prepared.
By pure coincidence I post also a cooking post today!
Have a nice week end.

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

Mmmm! That would hit the spot today!!

Willow said...

MMmmmmm People in our house love lentils. The chef at our favorite Italian restaurant in Oregon told me to alwyas put a few lentils in my minestrone soup and NEVER use oregano in it!

Rue said...

Hi Pat :)

That soup looks delicious!

Beautiful pictures of the park and I love the meme, because it's always wonderful to get to know you better ;)

hugs,
rue

Chubby Chieque said...

Jst so simple but looks too yummy! TY for the recipe. I have to save it for future recipe at home.

ENjoy ur Sunday!

steviewren said...

Your soup sounds really good. I love making one dish meals that are nutritious as well as tasty and easy. I'll have to give this one a try.

Fifi Flowers said...

YUM YUM YUM!!! I think I will have to store that recipe!
ENJOY the rest of your weekend! Fifi

Mrs. B said...

Yum! I love lentils. This sounds like a perfect autumn dish. I love your fall photos too.

Judi A. said...

I've been gone for quite awhile with no computer available, so am doing some catch-up and, as usual, enjoy your writings. Loved the Halloween postings - you make NYC sound like such a fun place to live. And then the beauty of the park - that alone would be motivation enough to get up and get going! Thank you for your time and effort in sharing your life in such a great city!! :-)

Unknown said...

YUMMY! as usual :D Pat, what is escarole..I've never heard it here. I love weekends as its my cooking time, well..practically slave to the stove haha..As time is always short during weekdays, I try to make huge batches of soup and freeze them so the kids can have it for breakfast. Hope you have a great week Pat, big hugs :D

Donna said...

Oh my gosh, that looks SO GOOD! This is the time of year to bring on the soups!

Laurie said...

It's so funny, as soon as the cold weather hits I see all us Italians making our best lentil soup! I too make mine with spicy sausage! Yours is nice and thick.. I love the addition of escarole!!

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog. I've been making the same soup for about the past two weeks since the weather got colder. I like your addition of Italian sausage and escarole. I'll have to try that next.

aliceinparis said...

That soup sounds DELICIOUS!!! I'll be making it this week:)
Cheers, Shelagh

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Manju Modiyani said...

Lentil soups looks so so so yum! You got nice recipes on the blog :)