Spicy Sausage & Lentil Soup 2

11 oz Hot Linguica Sausage - Diced
1/2 Large Onion - Diced
4 Carrots - Diced
1 Large Jalapeño - Seeded & Diced
3 Garlic Cloves - Smashed & Chopped
1/2 tsp Coriander
1 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
3 tbsp BBQ Sauce
2 tbsp Tomato Paste
3 1/2 Cups Lentils
1 Cup Red Wine
1 10 1/2 oz Can French Onion Soup - Hot
7 Cups Beef Stock (low sodium) - 4 cups + 3 cups separate - Hot
4 Cups Water - Hot

Over Med / Low heat in a Dutch Oven or large pot add the sausage and render the fat, stirring every few minutes to brown sausage on all sides.  It takes a while but you need to do it low and slow about 30 minutes.  Take sausage out with a slotted spoon, leaving the rendered fat behind.  Increase heat to med / high.  Add in the onions and sautee about 5 minutes.  Add in the carrots and sautee another 5 minutes.

Add jalapeño, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt, dijon mustard, bbq sauce & tomato paste and cook about 5 minutes.  Add in the lentils and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add in red wine and cook about 5 minutes to cook out the raw wine taste.  Add mushroom soup, 4 cups beef stock & water.  Simmer 35 minutes covered w/ lid slightly ajar.  Add in remaining 3 cups of beef stock and cook about 10 minutes.  Adjust seasoning accordingly & Enjoy.

Chicken, Lentil & Chick Pea Soup

2 tbsp Bacon Fat

2 Ribs Celery – Diced

1 Onion – Diced

4 Large Garlic Cloves- Minced

1 tsp Grated Ginger

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Black Pepper

1 Jalapeno – Seeded, Diced

1 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Smoked Paprika

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

2 tbsp Tomato Paste

1 tsp Fresh Thyme

1 Cup Lentils

6 Cups Chicken Stock

1 14.5 Can Diced Tomatoes

2 Cups Diced Chicken

2 Cans Chick Peas – drained

In a large pot over med/high heat add the bacon fat.  Add onions and celery. Cook for about 5-7 minutes.  Add in the garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Add in ginger, salt, pepper, jalapeno, cumin, paprika, Dijon mustard and tomato paste.  Stir to combine and cook about 2 minutes.  Add in thyme and lentils and cook about 3-4 minutes.  Add in the chicken stock and simmer w/ a lid cracked for 20-25 minutes or until the lentil are cooked with a slight bite to them.

Add in the tomatoes, chicken and chick peas.  Simmer about 10-15 minutes or until the broth becomes a little thicker.  Enjoy.