Don's Sausage and Lentil Soup

Today we are sharing one of my "soup-a-holic" Dad's hearty, delicious soups. Feel free to substitute fresh ingredients for dried or canned items listed below.

Ingredients:

1 carrot, diced                         2 cups dried lentils

2 stalks of celery, diced          1 tsp salt

1 large onion, chopped            ¾ tsp black pepper

2 cloves crushed garlic            ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1# hot Italian Sausage             ½ tsp oregano

8 cups of chicken broth          ½ tsp thyme

2 cans tomatoes                      ½ tsp fennel seeds

1 tbsp olive oil

Method:

1. In a large saucepan, heat oil. Add carrot, celery, onion, and garlic. Saute until tender.
2. Remove vegetables from the pan and add Italian Sausage, removed from the casing. Brown and drain off fat.
3. In a large stockpot, place add chicken broth, vegetables and sausage. Open tomatoes, break them up by squeezing them with your hands and add to the soup along with the juice.
4. Add the lentils.
5. Season with salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and fennel seeds.
6. Simmer until the lentils are tender…45-60 minutes. Remove 1/3 of the soup and puree it using a blender or hand held mixer, then return to the pot.
7. Taste for seasoning…if needed add whatever.