Versatile Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup with turkey bacon

    This hearty soup is versatile.  For example, it is great served as a main dinner with some crusty bread, or it can be part of a soup & salad/sandwich offering.  You can also vary the ingredients.  This time I used turkey bacon, but next time I will be using a smoked turkey sausage sliced thin.  Instead of kale, substitute chopped spinach. Like most soups & stews, it's much better the next day!

Ingredients:

• Slices of turkey bacon, or thinly sliced smoked turkey sausage
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2-3 carrots, peeled, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 tsp. cumin powder
• 3/4 tsp. ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1lb bag of lentils, rinsed
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 2 quarts of chicken broth, or vegetable broth     (I used one of each)
• 1 bunch kale, stems removed, chopped (about 4 cups)
• salt & pepper to taste (a dash of red pepper flakes when serving is nice too

Directions:

In your soup pot or dutch oven, cook your bacon or sausage with a Tbsp of olive oil for a couple of minutes.  As it starts to brown, add remaining oil and onion, carrots, celery and salt & pepper.  Sauté over medium high heat for a 5-6 minutes to soften veggies.  Turn down heat if they start to brown to soon.  Next add the garlic, cumin, coriander and turmeric, cooking another 2-3 minutes stirring to blend.

Add lentils, tomatoes, broth and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.  Increase heat bringing soup to a boil.  

While soup is heating up, chop the kale and add to the pot. Once boiling, cover and reduce heat to simmer for 30-40 minutes.

The soup is now ready to serve this way, but to make a thicker broth, I use an immersion blender for a few pulses in the pot and stir to mix.  If you don't have an immersion blender, remove a cup to cup and a half to a blender and puree.  return to the pot and stir.

* Not everyone in the house likes the same level of "heat".  I add a few shakes of red pepper flakes and a teaspoon of sour cream to my bowl.

Enjoy!