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Two black bowls labeled “soup” filled with chunky vegetable and sausage soup, placed on a light wooden surface beside three spoons and a bunch of purple flowers.

Lentil Soup Recipe

Chef Jenn
This 1982 lentil soup leans on ham and smoked sausage instead of playing it virtuous and vegetarian. One pot, no cream, and the lentils do all the thickening themselves.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 415 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 3 cups cooked ham diced
  • 1/2 pound smoked sausage cut into half moons
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4-5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups celery stalks and leaves chopped
  • 1 large tomato peeled, seeded, and cut into wedges
  • 1 pound dried lentils picked through and rinsed
  • 3 quarts water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions
 

  • Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
  • Add the ham, sausage, onion, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes more.
  • Add the tomato, lentils, water, salt, and smoked paprika. Bring to a simmer.
  • Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Uncover and simmer an additional 15 to 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender and the broth has thickened.
  • Taste and adjust salt as needed before serving.

Notes

Recipe Card Tips

  • Simmer covered for the first 15 minutes, then uncovered for the rest. That second stage is what thickens the broth; skip it and the soup stays thin.
  • This soup thickens a lot as it sits. When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it back up.
  • Pick through the dried lentils carefully before rinsing. Small stones show up more often than you'd expect in a full pound.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cupsCalories: 415kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 27gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 1255mgPotassium: 864mgFiber: 18gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 564IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 5mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

Keyword 1980s soup recipe, ham and lentil soup, lentil soup recipe, smoked sausage lentil soup, vintage lentil soup
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