LENTIL SOUP WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE AND APPLES

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Lentil Soup With Smoked Sausage and Apples image

Flavored with apple, sausage and mustard, this slightly creamy lentil soup strikes a nice balance between delicate and hearty. Small green lentils, or French lentils or lentils du Puy, are khaki-colored legumes that have a peppery flavor and keep their shape when cooked instead, which gives this soup an appealing texture. You can also use black lentils or easier-to-find brown lentils, but keep in mind that brown lentils will fall apart as they cook, creating a thicker stew. This soup takes only a few minutes to throw together, and most of the time is spent in hands-off simmering time, putting it within reach for a weeknight. It's never necessary to soak lentils, as they cook relatively quickly. (You can find a slow cooker version of this recipe here.)

Provided by Sarah DiGregorio

Categories     dinner, soups and stews, main course

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow or red onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 tart-firm apples, such as Honeycrisp, peeled and diced
3 celery stalks, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 fresh sage sprig, leaves chopped, or 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1 fresh thyme sprig, leaves chopped, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 cups/12 ounces dry hard cider
3/4 pound smoked sausage, such as kielbasa or Andouille, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick coins
1 1/2 cups/10 ounces dried small green lentils (also called French lentils or lentils du Puy)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1/4 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 to 6 scallions, thinly sliced for garnish

Steps:

  • Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the half the chopped apples, and cook, stirring until softened, adjusting the heat as necessary to avoid scorching, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the celery, garlic, sage and thyme, and stir to combine. Pour in the cider and let it come to a bubble. Add the sausage, lentils, nutmeg and 4 cups water to the pot. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper. Let the soup come to a boil, then decrease the heat to maintain a low simmer. Cover the pot and cook until the lentils are tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
  • Just before you are ready to eat, add the vinegar. Stir together the sour cream and mustard, then stir the mixture into the soup. Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve in bowls topped with the scallions and remaining chopped apples.

Bikash Xetri
[email protected]

This soup is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. My kids loved the sweet apples and the smoky sausage.


Sandra Knapp
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of apples in soup, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well they worked in this recipe.


Sain Bux R
[email protected]

This soup is a great way to use up leftover smoked sausage. It's also a great meal for a cold winter day.


DJ BACKSPIN South Africa
[email protected]

I'm always looking for new lentil soup recipes, and this one is definitely a keeper. It's so flavorful and satisfying.


Mrs SBF
[email protected]

This soup is a great make-ahead meal. I made a big batch on the weekend and then had leftovers for lunch all week.


Faith Van ryn
[email protected]

I made this soup in my slow cooker and it turned out great. It was so easy to just throw everything in the slow cooker and let it cook all day.


Mlungisi Mchunu
[email protected]

This soup is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. My kids loved the sweet apples and the smoky sausage.


Ssendege Robert
[email protected]

I'm not a big fan of lentils, but I really enjoyed this soup. The apples and smoked sausage helped to balance out the flavor of the lentils.


Mary 144
[email protected]

This soup is a great way to use up leftover smoked sausage. It's also a great meal for a cold winter day.


Sanjib Rajput
[email protected]

I love the combination of flavors in this soup. The smoked sausage, apples, and lentils all work together perfectly.


Gangster Baby
[email protected]

This is my new favorite lentil soup recipe. It's so easy to make and it's always a crowd-pleaser.


Sandy Fred
[email protected]

I made this soup for a potluck and it was a huge success. Everyone raved about how delicious it was.


Xhmed Xbdullah
[email protected]

I followed the recipe exactly and the soup turned out perfect. It was so flavorful and hearty. My husband and kids loved it.


Shamar Buddle
[email protected]

This lentil soup was a hit with my family! The smoked sausage added a delicious flavor, and the apples gave it a nice sweetness. I will definitely be making this again.