Ingredients:
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the Italian sausage over medium heat until cooked through. Remove from the pot and set aside.
- Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot and sauté until the vegetables are tender.
- Add the dried lentils and chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.
- Add the can of diced tomatoes, cooked sausage, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper to the pot. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips and Variations:
For a vegetarian version of this soup, leave out the sausage and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You can also add additional vegetables, such as diced potatoes or chopped kale, for added nutrition and flavor.
To save time, you can use pre-cooked lentils or canned lentils instead of dried lentils. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
If you prefer a spicier soup, you can use hot Italian sausage instead of mild sausage.