Best Cooks Illustrated Lentil Soup Recipes

LENTIL SOUP WITH KALE AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat the EVOO in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until browned. Add the garlic, bay leaves, rosemary, carrots, onions and potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the kale and nutmeg. Add the wine to deglaze the pot, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in the chicken stock and 2 cups water and bring to boil (for thicker soup, use 2 cups less liquid).
• Stir in the lentils and cook at a low, bubbly simmer until the lentils are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the rosemary stems and bay leaves.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and top with a drizzle of EVOO and the shaved Pecorino.

LENTIL AND ESCAROLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and carrots. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant, five to 10 minutes. Add the lentils and simmer with the tomato mixture for a few minutes, then add the bouquet garni and the water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and add salt to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons). Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Add the escarole, and bring back to a simmer. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the escarole and the lentils are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Toast slices of country bread if desired and rub with a cut clove of garlic. Place a slice in each bowl, ladle in the soup and serve.

LENTIL & ESCAROLE SOUP (COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a 6 qt heavy sauce pan or dutch oven over medium heat until it starts to shimmer.
• Add the onion, garlic, celery, carrot, parsley and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook until the vegetables are soft and reduced -- about 15 -20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Increase the heat to medium high, add the broth, water, tomatoes, lentil, Parmesan rind & bay leaves and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour - 1 1/4 hours until the lentils are soft.
• Stir in escarole and cook for about 5 minutes until wilted. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese.

COOK'S ILLUSTRATED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Fry bacon till fat is rendered. Add onion and carrots and cook till they soften, about 2 minutes. Add garlic till fragrant, add tomatoes and herbs and stir till fragrant. Add lentils, salt and pepper, stir well, cover, reduce heat and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover, increase heat, add wine and bring to boil. Add broth and water and bring back to boil. Cover partially, reduce heat to low and simmer till lentils are tender, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Puree 6 or 8 cups of soup till smooth and return to pot. Add vinegar and heat gently.