This simple lentils and sausage stew recipe is full of bold flavors and requires minimal effort to make.
It’s made with juicy Italian sausage and seasoned with fresh thyme, dried savory, cumin and a bit of paprika.
It’s an overall comforting meal that’s best enjoyed during the colder months of the year.
Simple Lentils and Sausage Stew Recipe
Lentils and sausage stew is a dish that’s traditionally served in the Balkans and some parts of the Mediterranean sea.
This particular recipe mostly stands out due to the addition of savory which is a spice that’s typical for Balkan cuisine.
If you can’t find savory, you can substitute it with some dried oregano.
Another thing that’s worth pointing out is that you can make this dish with either mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your preference.
Ingredients
- Sausage – Italian sausage is perfect for this recipe. It’s full of delicious spices and a soft texture which blends perfectly with the lentils.
- Lentils – This recipe is made with green lentils but you can also try it out with regular brown lentils.
- Tomato – The tomato will add a bit of umami and balance out the overall flavor.
- Aromatics – No stew is complete without the addition of some onions, garlic and carrots.
- Seasonings – The stew is seasoned with a mixture of fresh thyme, dried savory, cumin and paprika.
How to Make
Check out the recipe card at the end of this article for detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Start by running the lentils under cold water and straining with a sieve.
Continue by cutting the Italian sausage and browning it in the olive oil.
Take the lentils out of the pot and saute the finely chopped onions, carrots and garlic.
Deglaze the pot by adding a cup of the water.
Stir in the lentils and grated tomatoes into the pot along with the rest of the water.
Season with the cumin and paprika, then bring the water to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes under a closed lid.
Add the sausages to the pot, then season with the dried savory and fresh thyme, and cook until the lentils are done.
Check if the stew needs some salt and serve while warm.
Storage
This lentils and sausage stew can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Make sure you keep it in an airtight container to reduce the chance of spoilage.
You can also keep it in the fridge for up to three months.
To reheat, simply transfer the stew into a pot and place it on the stove over low heat.
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Simple Lentils and Sausage Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Italian sausages
- 4.5 oz yellow onion
- 1.8 oz carrot
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 8 cloves garlic
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup dried green lentils
- 1/3 cup tomatoes grated
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp fresh thyme or 4 sprigs
- 2 tsp savory dried
- Salt by taste
Instructions
- Wash the lentils and strain it with a sieve.
- Finely chop the onion and carrots, then slice the garlic cloves.
- Remove the seeds from the tomato and grate it.
- Cut the Italian sausage into bite-sized pieces.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot and brown the sausages.
- Remove the sausages from the pot and saute the finely chopped onions, carrots, and garlic.
- Gradually add a cup of water to the pot, then scrape the bottom with your spatula. The scrapes from the leftover sausage will add a richer flavor.
- Add the lentils and tomatoes, then pour the rest of the water and season with the cumin and paprika.
- Let the water come to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer under a closed lid for 20 minutes while occasionally stirring.
- Season with the fresh thyme and dried savory, then add the sausages to the pot. Press the sausages down with your spatula, then cook for another ten minutes or until the lentils are done.
- Give the lentils a taste and add some salt if necessary.
- Serve while warm.
Notes
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Nutrition
I do my best to provide you with the nutritional information for recipes but I'm not a certified nutritionist. The nutritional information provided should only be treated as an estimate since it will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.