skip to main content

Warm Your Body and Soul

image of a bowl of soup

Soup is a perfect antidote to winter weather – especially when it’s full of healthy vegetables and lentils. A small amount of sausage adds great flavor, but can easily be left out to make a delicious and comforting vegetarian meal.

Lentil Soup with Sausage, Chard and Garlic (From Smitten Kitchen)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
  • 2 large links (about 8 ounces) of sweet Italian sausage (optional)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 celery ribs, sliced or diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into half-moons or diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced (reserve half for later in recipe)
  • Kosher salt
  • A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 cup brown lentils, sorted and rinsed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • (1) 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 6 cups water
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 to 4 cups shredded or thinly sliced Swiss chard leaves or kale
  • Grated Pecorino Romano cheese to finish

Instructions

  1. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil (enough to generously coat bottom of pot) in a large pot on medium to medium-high heat.
  2. When hot, add the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it starts to brown, about five minutes.
  3. Add the onion, celery, carrots, first two garlic cloves, a pinch of salt, and if you like your soup spicy, a pinch of red pepper flakes.
  4. Cook with the sausage until the vegetables soften a bit, another five minutes.
  5. Add the lentils, bay leaves, tomatoes, water, more salt and black pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook until the lentils are tender, about 40 minutes.
  6. When the lentils are cooked, add the chard and cook until the leaves are tender, just a few minutes more. Discard the bay leaves.
  7. To finish, divide soup among bowls, then add the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 garlic cloves to a small skillet and heat over medium until the garlic softens and hisses.
  8. Drizzle garlic oil over soup bowls, and top with fresh Romano, passing more at the table.
Dimensions Newsletter logo

Dimensions Newsletter

Financial, Health and Well-Being Information

Dimensions Newsletter

Financial, Health and Well-Being Information