Lentil and Sausage Soup

 

16 oz Italian sausage uncooked

2 large carrots, minced (I used food processor to carrots and celery to mince)

4 celery stocks, minced

4 tsp tomato paste

1 carton kettle and fire mushroom chicken broth 16.9 oz 

1 can 14 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes or crushed ( I blended the diced with an emersion blender)

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt and pepper

1/2 c pearl couscous uncooked (see note below) 

1/2 c brown lentils uncooked (see note below)You might not use all the lentils add a little at a time to the soup.

Fry Italian sausage in pot until cooked and remove from pan leaving in drippings

add carrots and celery to sausage drippings and cook for 5 mins until soft

add in tomato paste cook 1 minute

add in fire roasted tomatoes, mushroom broth, cooked pearl couscous, cooked lentils, garlic powder, salt and pepper

simmer low for 15 minutes, until blended

Pearl couscous: follow instructions on package. or I used my medium deep anyway cookware. added 1/2 c pearl couscous with 3/4 c water, drizzle of oil and salt. microwave 3 mins, stir, microwave 3 more minutes. this will be aldente. 

Brown lentils: follow instructions on package if uncooked. or I put 2 cups water with 1/2 c lentils, 1 bay leaf in pot, bring up to a boil, simmer place lid on for 20 mins until cooked. 

PRINTABLE RECIPE

MAKES 4 SOUPER CUBES TO FREEZE FOR FOOD PREP

Easy Crockpot Italian Wedding Soup

 This is mostly a dump and go crockpot soup. I modified it from freezer family meals. 

Easy Crockpot Italian Wedding Soup

1 bag (20 oz) frozen grass fed meatballs (target brand good and gather)

1 yellow onion diced or 1 cup frozen diced onions

1 bag (12 oz) frozen crinkle cut carrots (target good and gather)

1 block (10 oz) frozen spinach

1 TBLS Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Watkins brand steak seasoning or Montreal steak seasoning

6 cups water (or do chicken broth and skip bouillon)

6 tsp chicken bouillon clean Monday meals brand (or just do 6 c chicken broth) 

salt as needed if you don't use bouillon 

1/4 cup uncooked arcini tiny pasta (don't put in until last 30 mins of cooking)

Dump in all the frozen ingredients into a 4 Qt crockpot except the pasta.

set on high for maybe 3-4 hrs until onions and carrots soften

last 30 minutes decrease temperature to low and add pasta

Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. 

(I didn't need to add any more salt with my bouillon and steak seasoning had salt and pepper in it.) 

PRINTABLE RECIPE

SIMPLIFIED RECIPE

Easy Crockpot Italian Wedding Soup

1 bag (20 oz) frozen meatballs

1 cup frozen diced onions

12 oz frozen carrots 

10 oz frozen spinach

1 TBLS Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Montreal steak seasoning

6 cups chicken broth 

1/2 tsp salt as needed 

1/4 cup uncooked arcini tiny pasta (don't put in until last 30 mins of cooking)

Dump in all the frozen ingredients into a 4 Qt crockpot except the pasta.

set on high for maybe 3-4 hrs until onions and carrots soften

last 30 minutes decrease temperature to low and add pasta

Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.