Many years ago, in 2013, I was offered a copy of the Healthy Calendar Diabetic Cookbook by Lara Rondinelli-Hamilton for review. This came in handy during my years of cooking for my diabetic father, and diabetic in-laws. One of our favorite recipes from the book is this Hearty Lentil Soup recipe. I made a few changes to adapt it to our tastes and, honestly, to use ingredients I had on hand rather than make a trip to the store.
Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe
This naturally gluten-free soup is so filling that you don’t really need any accompaniment. If you like, serve it with a salad and either cornbread or rolls. It can be prepared on the stovetop or in a crockpot for added convenience.
Good Substitutions:
- Substitute turkey sausage for the Italian sausage. This was what was used in the original recipe.
- Use your choice of mild or hot Italian sausage.
- Adjust the Italian seasoning to your taste.
- Substitute an equal amount of diced tomatoes with chili peppers in your choice of mild, medium, or hot (think Ro-tel)
- Substitute 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano for the Italian seasoning. Dried oregano was used in the original recipe.
Good Additions:
- Add 1/2 cup of either finely chopped raw cauliflower or finely chopped raw broccoli
- Add 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese in the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking time.
- This makes a very thick soup. If you prefer a soup with more juice, add an additional 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes.
Good Toppings:
- shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese
- a dollop of sour cream
How to Freeze the Soup:
- Allow the soup to cool to room temperature, approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
- Store the soup in an airtight plastic freezer container or an airtight freezer bag. The soup will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To thaw; place the soup in the refrigerator overnight. To prepare, place 1 to 2 cups of soup in a microwave safe bowl. Cover with a damp paper towel. Heat on high 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after every 30 seconds.
How to Prepare Dried Lentils
- You can use either brown, green, or red lentils for this soup. Remember, red lentils become mushy when cooked so they are best used for soups, stews, and sauces.
- Purchase fresh lentils if possible as older lentils take longer to cook. While there won’t be a difference in taste, their appearance may differ with older lentils developing white spots or splitting during cooking time.
- Important: Always place the lentils in a strainer and rinse them before adding them to the recipe to remove any dirt or debris.
- You do not need to presoak lentils before use.
- Remember, lentils cook much faster than dried beans, usually within 20 to 25 minutes.
Crockpot Directions:
- To prepare the soup in a crockpot, follow the mixing directions as outlined in the recipe.
- Then, place the soup mixture into the crockpot and cook on low for 3 hours or on high for one hour.
Printable Recipe:
Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe
4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalIngredients
1-lb Italian sausage
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth or beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup dried lentils
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt, use to taste
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (adjust this to taste)
Directions
- Spray a large saucepan or Dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray. Add the sausage, celery, onion, garlic, and carrot. Cook over high-heat until sausage is no longer pink, around 5 to 8 minutes. Drain.
- Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan, stirring until blended. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Notes
- This makes a very thick soup. If you prefer a soup with more juice, add an additional 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes to the soup.
This hearty lentil soup recipe is a great way to add protein to your diet. Let us know if you’ve tried it and any adaptations you’ve made in the comments. If you’d like more recipes like this, the Healthy Calendar Diabetic Cookbook has been updated to a second edition and is available on Amazon.
I have been looking for recipes for Lentil Soup and this one sounds and looks delicious. I can’t wait to try it.
This is the perfect recipe for our family and
my sister, who is diabetic…
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I make a lot of soup in the winter and actually have a bag of lentils in the pantry. I’ll have to try this soup – it looks great!
This would be perfect for a cold day 🙂
Sounds like it would be good.
Oh, that sounds yummy!
I love Lentil soup.. soooo have to try this; thanks for sharing…YUM
This looks yummy … I adore lentils and they are so healthy. I’ve vegan so would probably substitute something else for the sausage … or possibly just leave it out. And I could use veg broth instead of chicken. I like the addition of tomatoes in this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
That would have been wonderful today with the cold weather!
That sounds yummy! I am not sure I have ever eaten anything with lentils in it…
That looks delicious! I’m really into making homemade soup this year and can’t wait to try this!
This looks so warming for a winter day. I’ve always have lentils so will give this a try and will pin it too.
Yum! I’m looking for soup recipes since it’s been so chilly and this one looks yummy and easy to make.