Hearty Lentil Soup

Name: Hearty Lentil Soup
Ingredients: 14 lb smoked sausage (e.g. Hilshire Farms); 2 small carrots; 1 small onion, diced (omit if, like me, you don't like onions); 1 lb lentils; 1 teaspoon celery seed; 8 -10 cups beef stock (see note below); 14 teaspoon Tabasco sauce; 18 teaspoon ground cloves; 2 teaspoons thyme; 1 tablespoon dried parsley; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 bay leaf; 2 tablespoons vinegar

14 ingredients

10 steps

Ingredients

14 lb smoked sausage (e.g. Hilshire Farms)
2 small carrots
1 small onion, diced (omit if, like me, you don't like onions)
1 lb lentils
1 teaspoon celery seed
8 -10 cups beef stock (see note below)
14 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
18 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons thyme
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons vinegar

Directions

1

(Note on beef stock: I use about 9 cups of stock, which makes a very thick soup.
2

If you like a thinner soup, add more water.
3

Commercial stocks, such as Swanson's, have a stronger flavor, so no more than 8 c. of stock should be used; then add water if necessary).
4

Shred carrots and sausage in a food processor.
5

Combine all ingredients except the vinegar in a stockpot.
6

A 4-quart pot will be fine for 9 cups of stock; if you use more than that, you will need to go to a 5-quart or 6-quart pot.
7

Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until lentils are soft.
8

Add vinegar and stir well.
9

With 9 cups of stock, makes about 6 2-cup servings.
10

Like most soups, this reheats very well, and becuase there is virtually no fat in it, it can even be frozen.