Sausage and Lentil Soup

1001 Best Slow Cooker Recipes

• Ready In: 4 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 8 -12  ounces  italian style turkey sausage (casings removed)
• 3  quarts  beef stock or 3  quarts broth
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1  lb dried lentils
• 1 1⁄2 cups  chopped onions
• 3⁄4 cup  chopped carrot
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1  bay leaf
• 2 -3  teaspoons lemon juice
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Cook sausage over medium heat until browned, about 8 minutes and crumble with a fork.
2. Combine sausage and remaining ingredients, except lemon juice, salt and pepper in slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours. Discard bay leaf.
4. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
5. Variation: same as above, but omit sausage and add ½ cup sliced fennel bulb. Substitute 1 t lightly crushed fennel seed for the herbs. Process soup in food processor or blender until smooth; garnish each bowl with finely chopped fennel tops.