The colder weather has made me want to try out some hearty soup recipes. I have all of the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks, so I decided to try one of those recipes. This soup turned out really great. It makes a lot of soup! My husband and I took it for lunch for about 3 days, and I froze half of it.
Lentil Sausage Soup (Serves 8 to 10)
Copyright 2004, Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten, Clarkson/Potter Publishers, All Rights Reserved
1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for serving
4 cups diced yellow onions (3 large)
4 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts only (2 leeks)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (2 large cloves)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1-1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)
3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)
3 quarts Homemade Chicken Stock or canned broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 pound kielbasa, cut in half lengthwise and sliced 1/3 inch thick
2 tablespoons dry red wine or red wine vinegar
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions:
In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.
In a large stockpot over medium heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions, leeks, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are translucent and tender. Add the celery and carrots and sauté for another 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and drained lentils, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, or until the lentils are cooked through and tender. Check the seasonings. Add the kielbasa and red wine and simmer until the kielbasa is hot. Serve drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.