Down-home Smoked Sausage And Lentil Soup

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup dry lentils
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup carrot, chopped
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup dry red
• 5 cups water
• 2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons fresh sage, snipped
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• 10 ounces fully-cooked smoked link sausage, sliced diagonally
• freshly grated parmesan cheese, for serving
• fresh parsley, snipped (garnish)

Recipe

• 1 pick through the lentils and discard any stones; wash and drain.
• 2 to a large 6-quart dutch oven heat the olive oil over a medium flame. once hot, add the bell pepper, carrots, celery, onion, tomato and salt; sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. add the and simmer the mixture, until liquid is reduced by half.
• 3 add the next seven (7) ingredients; give a good stir. bring to a boil; reduce heat. cover and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
• 4 stir in the cooked sausage; heat through.
• 5 ladle soup into warmed soup bowls and garnish with parsley. serve with parmesan, warm crusty italian bread and a freshly tossed green salad.