Have you heard? Canadian Lentils and Chef Michael Smith are looking for 5 Canadian Food Bloggers to be the Star of the Show!!! Yes, it deserves that many exclamation points. I came up with this delicious Lentil Soup with Kale and Sausage recipe for the contest. My family loved it so I hope the judges do too!
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have my own cooking show. It all began with Anna Olson and her TV show Sugar. I was obsessed. Then I was introduced to Chef Michael Smith, Giada de Laurentiis, Ina Garten, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay… need I continue? I think it’s so amazing that chefs are now becoming celebrities. Even better, Food Bloggers are now getting their own cooking shows! Hello Ree Drummond (the Pioneer Woman), you’re a true inspiration.
While I’m still very happy sharing my recipes on this blog for the pure pleasure of sharing my recipes, I will admit I was very excited by the opportunity to maybe become the Star of the Show. I’m not even looking for fame or fortune, I’m just excited by the opportunity to learn how to create my own cooking shows (Youtube here I come!) and to meet Chef Michael Smith of course! I’m going to try keep my cool but I may have some fan girl moments.
Confession time: I’m not a big camera person. I’d much sooner be behind the camera then in front of the camera. However, I am a huge believer in becoming a better person and pushing myself outside my comfort zone. I was definitely outside my comfort zone when I made this video for my Lentil Soup with Kale and Sausage. Honestly tho? I loved every minute of it. The pure satisfaction of watching the finished product. Yes my head still fits through the doorway. I certainly don’t think my video was perfect, but I gave it my all and I learned a lot from the experience. Isn’t that what life is all about? Check it out below and tell me what you think. (please be gentle with the comments.. I am still learning)
So let me tell you a little about this delicious Lentil Soup with Kale and Sausage. Perhaps it was inspired a bit by my kale and sausage stuffed acorn squash. This lentil soup is made with Canadian green lentils, sweet potato, leeks, carrots, kale and my favourite Italian sausage. I’ve seen different versions that use regular potatoes instead of sweet potatos, green onions instead of leeks and kale can be substituted for spinach. The green lentils can also be swapped out for brown lentils instead. Just don’t reach for the red lentils as they tend to become mushy and much better suited to a pureed soup.
Lentil Soup with Kale and Sausage
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage , casings removed
- 4 cloves garlic , finely chopped
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- 1 carrot , finely chopped
- 2 leeks , chopped
- 1 sweet potato , peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 bunch kale , stemmed and chopped
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1 1/4 cups green lentils
Instructions
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Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium high heat. Break the sausage into small chunks and add to the heated oil. Cook the sausage until brown, breaking into bite size pieces as you cook it.
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Add the garlic, bay leaves, carrots, leeks and sweet potato. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Cook the vegetables until tender, approximately 8 minutes.
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Pour in the chicken stock. Stir in the tomato paste and nutmeg. Bring to a boil. Once the soup is boiling, add in the kale and lentils.
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Turn the temperature down and cook on low until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and serve.
