Carrabba's Sausage and Lentil Soup

This might be our go to soup. It’s so good! We used mild sausage and added corn as well

Delicious, forgiving recipe. It's perfect with no substitutions but don't be shy to tweak the recipe if your ingredients vary slightly. Definitely saute the savories and the celery in a little of the sausage grease then deglaze (with water or whatever) before adding in the liquid items though, it's always better that way for soupmaking! I didn't have zucchini or Italian sausage. I subbed Jimmy Dean's hot sausage, doubled the celery (personal preference), threw in a green bell pepper that needed to go, and added a little paprika/sage + 1tbsp chicken base. Tasted amazing for a cozy winter day!

After draining the sausage, I added the onion, celery and garlic, and cooked until beginning to soften. Then I deglazed the pot with a little red wine before adding all the other ingredients. I also only used 1 can of tomatoes.

Subbed chopped kale for the zucchini and added some yellow bell pepper. Used fired roasted tomatoes and canned lentils. Didn't have basil or garlic so added extra onion powder and a little cumin. Since everything was fresh or canned, did not have to cook for the full hour. Soooo good, the whole family loved it with parmesan on top! Will be making regularly.

Being a carnivore, I used two hot sausage links and two Italian sausage links. I also thought I had dry lentils on hand, but no turns out I had cooked lentils vacuum sealed ready to heat, from Trader Joe’s. I was nervous about whether or not it would work turned out beautifully and it cut the cook time down 30 mins!