Spicy Turkey Sausage and Lentil Soup

This Spicy Turkey Sausage and Lentil Soup is a delicious big bowl of comfort. You can make it ahead of time and it tastes just as good, if not better, the next day. 

This lentil soup just may become one of your all-time favorite soups. Plus, you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator. 

It's perfect for warming you up on a cold day and it is super nutritious. It lends itself for multiple meals. Pack leftovers in a sealed container and take them to work for lunch. 

Serve it with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and parsley or cilantro. Serve with a green salad and crackers or a nice crusty bread for a tasty and filling meal. 

Special Ingredient Notes:

Lentils: Use dried lentils. Unlike beans, there is no need to soak them ahead of time. Just rinse them ad throw them in the pot with the broth. They will fully soften in the pot after 40 to 45 minutes of simmering. While I used brown lentils, you could also use red or green lentils. 

Lentils are so nutritious. They are high in protein, fiber, and B vitamins. 

Harissa Paste: This is a spicy sauce of North African origin that is made with red chili peppers, red bell peppers, garlic, olive oil, some citrus, and vinegar in its simplest form. You can usually find it in the hot sauce or international food section. You could also substitute another hot sauce or a smaller amount of crushed red pepper flakes if you can't find it. 

Hot Italian Turkey Sausage: Remove the casings and cook the sausage, breaking it into smaller pieces. You can also sometimes find it without casings. I used a package of Jennie-O. 

This soup only takes about an hour to make and most of the time is hands off. You can make it in advance and reheat it when you are ready to serve it. 

This was definitely one of our favorite soups. I need to cook with lentils more often! 

If you're looking for more lentil soups, I do have three other great recipes, Moroccan lamb, chickpea, and lentil soup (Harira), Instant Pot chicken and lentil soup, and summer vegetable soup with lentils and sausage. They are delicious. 

This month, the Soup Saturday Swapper group is sharing recipes of soups with lentils. I want to try them all. 

• Cajun Lentil Soup with Andouille Sausage from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Creamy Vegan Lentil Soup from Magical Ingredients
• Ham and Lentil Soup from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Spicy Turkey Sausage and Lentil Soup from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Steak and Potato Lentil Soup from Palatable Pastime
• Tadkawali Doh Dal from Sneha’s Recipe

Spicy Turkey Sausage and Lentil Soup

Yield: 8 servings

Author: Karen's Kitchen Stories

Prep time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 Hour

This Spicy Turkey Sausage and Lentil Soup is a delicious big bowl of comfort. You can make it ahead of time and it tastes just as good, if not better, the next day.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 16 to 20 ounces Hot Italian turkey sausage, casings removed (I used Jennie-O)
• 1 large yellow or brown onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon harissa paste
• 2 cups dried lentils, rinsed
• 8 cups chicken stock
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven. When it is hot, add the sausage and cook until it is broken up and just cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the pan and place it in a bowl or plate. Set aside.
2. Add the onion, celery, and carrots to the pan, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the garlic, cumin, and harissa, and cook for one minute.
3. Add the sausage back into the pan.
4. Stir in the lentils and the chicken stock, bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, for 45 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
5. Add the lemon juice and stir. Serve with the Parmesan and parsley.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

411.66

Fat (grams)

12.71 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

3.54 g

Carbs (grams)

45.64 g

Fiber (grams)

16.54 g

Net carbs

29.09 g

Sugar (grams)

9.19 g

Protein (grams)

28.75 g

Sodium (milligrams)

992.73 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

41.01 mg

https://www.karenskitchenstories.com/2023/02/spicy-turkey-sausage-and-lentil-soup.html

Karen's Kitchen Stories

Lentils

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Adapted from Joy the Baker