I really enjoy cooking things that take a little love and this Italian Lentil Soup is full of love and all things that foodies enjoy!
A clear soup with onion, carrots, celery and garlic, white wine, whole tomatoes, and lentils, a combination that is wholesome and homey. With Italian herbs such as bay leaves, dried thyme, fresh basil and a little red pepper flakes, it may just be the grated cheese topping that wins over the hearts of everyone!
To make Italian Lentil Soup, you will need the following ingredients:
In a large pot over medium-low heat, heat ¼ cup of olive oil then reduce heat to medium and add 1 finely diced onion, 2 finely diced carrots and 2 finely diced celery stalks. Cook for about 10 minutes until vegetables have softened.
Add 3-4 cloves of minced garlic and cook for a few minutes, to saute.
Increase the heat to medium high, pour in ½ cup of white wine and allow to cook away for a minute.
Add 14 ounces of canned whole tomatoes, crushed by hand, 2 cups of rinsed lentils, 8 cups of stock, 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon of dried thyme, 4-5 leaves of fresh basil and ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes, if using. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat, cover half of the top of the pot and cook on a simmer for about 30-40 minutes until the lentils have softened. Season to taste and add water as needed.
To serve, discard bay leaf, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with sprinkles of parsley and grated cheese, if you wish! Enjoy!
I love the fresh vegetables and ingredients used in this Italian Lentil Soup recipe. Visit your local grocer and start experimenting. You’re going to love it! Let us know when you do and share our recipe with others using our hashtag online #cookmerecipes!
