Chase away the cold weather with a bowl of my hearty Lentil Soup with Sausage and Greens.
I recently wrote a blog post about reducing food waste at home and one of the tips I gave was to plan out your meals for the week. One of my favorite things to make on the weekend is a big old pot of soup, especially when I know I have a busy work week coming up.
There’s just something so comforting about tucking into a piping hot bowl of soup after a long day, especially when it’s cold outside. Plus, I love the way it makes my kitchen smell as it simmers away on the stove.
I usually make enough soup to enjoy for a few days and then freeze the rest. That way I always have a hearty and nutritious meal that I can heat up when I’m short on time.
My Lentil Soup with Sausage and Greens is packed with lentils, chicken sausage, and vegetables like carrots, celery and hearty greens. It’s easy to make, inexpensive and filling enough to be eaten for dinner.
It can also easily be made vegetarian by omitting the sausage.
I made the base of the soup with French green lentils. I like using them in this soup recipe because they hold their shape better than traditional brown lentils and don’t get mushy.
Lentils actually come in hundreds of varieties ranging in color from red to orange, yellow, green, brown and black.
I love using all kinds of lentils in my cooking because they have so many health benefits. They are one of the best plant-based sources of protein, which makes them a great addition to vegetarian diets.
In addition, they are high in fiber, which helps lower cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease. They also are a good source of B vitamins (especially folate), iron, and several other minerals.
For my Lentil Soup with Sausage and Greens, I like to stir in some fresh greens at the very end. You can use kale, Swiss chard, spinach or whatever you have on hand.
A touch of vinegar at the end adds a pop of flavor. I like to serve the soup with some grated Parmesan cheese and crusty whole grain bread for dipping.
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Recipe
Lentil Soup with Sausage and Greens
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 package (12 ounces) cooked chicken sausage, sliced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 8 ounces (about 1 cup + 2 tablespoons) French green lentils, rinsed
- 4 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- 4 cups roughly chopped Swiss chard, kale, spinach or other leafy green
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for topping
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pot, heat ½ tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage slices and brown them on both sides. Transfer the sausage to a bowl.
- Add the remaining tablespoon oil to the pot along with the onion, carrot and celery. Cook until slightly softened, 4-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, rosemary, bay leaf and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the lentils, stock and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer with the lid slightly ajar until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Stir in the greens, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sausage and cook until the greens are wilted and the sausage is heated through, 3-4 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, if desired.
Nutrition
Kira says
This recipe is a staple in our home during the winter months! Great to make a pot on Sunday and have lunch for the week!
I subbed brown for green lentils and red wine vinegar for balsamic because those are what live in my pantry
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
So happy to hear that! It's a flexible recipe- your substitutions sound great! Sometimes I throw whatever veggies I have in my fridge into the soup. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Jeanette says
I prepared your Lentil Soup with Sausage and Greens yesterday and it was delicious, thank you for this wonderful recipe. I used the French green lentils that I have used for years and love them. I appreciate your healthy recipes.
Regards,
Jeanette
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
That’s great- I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂
Sandie says
Easy recipe that was very good. Added some diced peppers and used shredded kale becasue that is what I had. I will make this again.
Dr. Sonali Ruder says
Hi Sandie, so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe! Peppers and kale sound like wonderful additions. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review 😊
Kata says
Wonderful dish! Not only was the meal interesting in flavour and healthy, but it was also relatively simple to make. Sincere recommendations for this recipe💕
sonaliruder says
Thank you, Kata! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Liz says
This recipe was excellent — not excellent-for-a-healthy-soup, but excellent-with-no-qualifiers. I was worried my husband would be digging around for some substantial meat, but the chicken sausage and lentils were meaty enough to keep us both full. I will absolutely make this soup again, maybe with a soy chorizo riff.
I made a few modifications I think I will make again. I used 6 cups of reduced sodium stock and no water; I omitted all added salt; and I removed about 16 of the broth, lentils, and veggies at the end of cooking right before adding the kale, hit it with an immersion blender, and added it back to the pot to make the soup base a bit heartier and creamy. Delicious!
sonaliruder says
So happy you and your husband enjoyed it! My recipe is actually now on the back of the Farmer Direct Co-Op lentils package! Great idea to puree part of the soup to make it creamier- I will try that next time 🙂
Becky says
If gives calories per serving but not what a serving is. Is it 1 cup?
sonaliruder says
A serving is about 1 1/3 cups
Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking Disorder says
I love the idea on reducing food (and general) waste. I did try the meal deliveries like Blue Apron and felt the packaging was so wasteful so I stopped 🙂
Kristy from Southern In Law says
This looks so so good! I bet it could even convince Jesse to like lentils! 😛
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I love this idea! It's actually chilly and grey in San Diego today - I'm craving a bowl of this. Farmer Direct it my jam. 🙂
jberry says
I've seen them, not tried them. I have a fondness for Cannellini , their versatile.
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says
It is literally pouring down rain right now so soup sounds like perfection!
Farrah says
Farmer Direct Co-op is such an awesome company and that soup looks absolutely amazing!! Lentil soup makes such a hearty + healthy meal! 😀