A delicious hearty soup for a cold day. Just add crusty, chewy bread and a glass of white wine...
2 links hot Italian sausage (I use the Jennie O turkey sausage)
1 large onion - chopped
4 cloves garlic - chopped
4 stalks celery - chopped
2 cups dried green lentils (rinsed)
3 carrots - diced
2 potatoes - diced (not necessary, but if you like potato...)
2 quarts chicken broth
1 tsp. dried marjoram
1/2 tsp. Italian crushed red peppers (if you want it spicy)
Salt and pepper to taste.
Remove casing from sausage and saute in a large soup pot with 2 TBSP. oil, breaking the sausage up into small bits as you cook it. When nearly done, add the onion and celery and keep cooking for a bit. Add garlic last, stirring for another minute or two.
Pour in lentils and chicken broth. Let simmer for about an hour with the lid off to let the broth reduce a bit and get the lentils softening. Then, put in carrots, potatoes, and marjoram. Continue simmering slowly until the lentils, carrots and potatoes are soft. Season as necessary.
NOTE: You don't have to use as much sausage if you don't want, 1 link will still give you the flavor without as much meat.
