Rustic Italian Lentil Soup

Submitted by gailanng

"Vegetarian Version: Omit the pancetta, bacon and sausage and substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock. Adapted from Carmine's Family Style Cookbook, as in Carmine's Restaurant NYC."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 45mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 ounces diced pancetta
• 2 slices bacon, diced
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2 small plum tomatoes, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
• 5 -6 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh thyme leave
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
• 1⁄8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 1⁄2 cups green lentils, rinsed and drained
• 1 russet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 -2 italian sweet sausage (about 5 ounces) or 1 -2 hot Italian sausage link (about 5 ounces)

directions

1. In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter starts to foam. Add the pancetta and bacon and cook until the bacon is crisp, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until the garlic has softened, about 2 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, and onions and cook until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, strain the chopped tomatoes through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible.
3. Add 5 cups chicken stock to the pot and then stir in the strained tomato pulp, bay leaves, salt, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Add the lentils, increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the soup to a boil. Partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the soup for about 45 minutes.
4. Add the potatoes and cook the soup for about 15 minutes more, stirring occasionally, or until the lentils and potatoes are tender. Add more chicken stock if the soup becomes too thick.
5. Meanwhile, remove the casings from the sausage. In a small nonstick sauté pan over high heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, for 4 to 5 minutes or until it is nicely browned.
6. Add the sausage and any fat remaining in the pan to the soup. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Taste the soup and add salt if necessary. Remove the bay leaves and serve.