Sausage Lentil Soup

This soup is the second recipe made using Sandy's Favorite Homemade Sausage Recipe updated on 10/20/2014. The first recipe was the Sausage Cheese Balls, pictured here, and posted on 1/30/2014.

The recipe for the soup is written for Italian sausage, and again, we thought the homemade turkey sausage was wonderful. The soup is very lean and low in calories and, quite flavorful and satisfying on a chilly day. Blessings...

Recipe:

1/2 lb. homemade sausage or mild Italian sausage
1 tbsp. olive oil if using turkey sausage
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
3/4 cup chopped carrot
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup water
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3/4 cup lentils, rinsed and drained

1. In a soup kettle, brown and crumble sausage in olive oil if using turkey sausage (drain if using a pork product).
2. Add next nine ingredients; bring to a boil. Add lentils. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 60 to 70 minutes or until the lentils are tender.

Yield: 7-1/2 cups
115 calories per cup
6 gms. fiber per cup