Sunday, January 1, 2012

Lentil and Sausage Soup

My wife and I have given up going out for New Years, we just spend the evening at home. We have a nice dinner, usually lobster of some kind. Open a bottle of presecco with the lobster and finish it at midnight. Presecco is a sparkling wine from Italy. It is sweet and tastes very much like Asti if you have had that. Presecco is the traditional alcohol used for making Bellini's. My wife and I prefer it over champaign. This year only one of us made it past 10:30 PM, but I won't embarrass my wife by telling you she fell asleep at 9:00 PM slept until 10:00. Then she watched most of the news and then went upstairs to bed.
For New Years Day we had a bowl of sausage and lentil soup. Lentils and pork (the sausage) are both considered symbols of good luck in Italy. Lentils are also a symbol for money. I don't know anybody who doesn't want good luck and money so it just seems like a good idea to start the new year.

Lentil and Sausage Soup
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. Cotechino Sausage, or any pork sausage cut into small dice
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large clove garlic, thinly sliced see note
1/2 pt cherry tomatoes, halved
2 14.5 oz cans Lentils or 1 pound dried
3 cups water
salt, to taste
crushed red pepper, to taste

Note: I don't use cherry tomatoes I use canned "small tomatoes from the hillside" from Italy. These tomatoes have been peeled and are grown on the mountainside in volcanic soil. So you can peel you cherry tomatoes or find pomodorini di collina on the internet or eat an Italian import store like I did. The brand that I have is Annalisa.

In a dutch oven over medium heat add the olive oil. When olive oil is hot add the sausage and cook for 3 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, garlic and tomatoes. Cook for 10 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add the lentils and water, bring soup to simmer, cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Season with salt and crushed red pepper. 

7 comments:

  1. Well I don't know what it taste like but by looking at these gorgeous photos my mouth is all ready to eat the whole screen! NICE First one in 2012... Love it would be none left for you lol.....lots of red pepper for me please.. I like that it is easy to follow got to try this one soon~ those Italians know what they're doing (smile)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks! I go t a new lens from Santa and was trying it out. 50mm 1.8 Cannon. Good for lower light, portraits and food photographs according to description.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I never knew that lentils were a sign of money! Now, I know! :D And prosecco, what a lovely drink, no? Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mmmmmm....a delicious way to start the new year. Congrats on the Top 9 today!

    ReplyDelete
  5. A friend of ours makes a similar soup he calls First Night Soup; this looks better. We're going to try it tonight (dropping into the 40s tonight on the Gulf Coast). We'll use vegetarian Italian sausage though. Thanks for the recipe. PS Great lens

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tiffany the lady at the Italian restaurant supply store told me that lentils representing money. Prosecco is a lovely drink.
    Lizzy is to modest to tell you she was also in the Top 9 today. In fact so was Claudia (Pegasuslegend). Tiffany has been in the Top 9 more times than I have. I guess if you leave a comment on my blog you have to be a Top 9 member.
    Editor I think this soup will be good with any sausage, I often use turkey or chicken sausage. I think it would be good without any sausage. I think this is the first time you stopped by so welcome and please come back.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm glad you're starting off the year right—with a big bowl of lentils! They say they bring good luck and prosperity, as I'm sure you know. My luck never seems to change, but I keep trying anyway... ;=)

    ReplyDelete