Deep Summer Lentil and Soyrizo Soup
This is the time of year when many of us find we have an abundance of summer vegetables. Because people having been confined to their homes over the last few months, many have been hard at work on a vegetable garden. Look out friends and neighbors-- here comes a landslide of summer produce!
This lentil soup recipe is a wonderful way of using up those odds and ends you have on hand. Soyrizo (a soy-based chorizo) is the perfect balance of heat and flavor to marry the earthy taste of lentils to most vegetables in season now. The recipe is versatile and forgiving—you can use a tremendous variety of produce and it will blend brilliantly. It’s vegan, gluten free, hearty, healthy and super tasty!
Pro tip: If you happen to be enjoying a nice Reisling or Chardonnay and a few glugs make their way into the pot with the vegetable broth, even more flavor magic happens. Wink, wink!
1 small onion
2 celery stalks
2 carrots, peeled
4 garlic cloves
2 Tbl olive oil
14 oz can diced tomatoes (or about 1 lb of fresh diced tomatoes)
3 cups mixed summer vegetables (zucchini, green beans, peas and yellow squash are great options)
1 ½ tsp lemon zest
2 tsp dried thyme
1 sprig rosemary (about 4 inches)
12 oz Soyrizo
1 ½ cups dried lentils, thoroughly rinsed
6 cups vegetable broth, stock or water
2 bay leaves
1 cup shredded greens (kale, chard or collards are great options)
sea salt
Food processor (or very patient vegetable dicing skills)
Mince garlic in food processor. Add onions carrots and celery and pulse into ¼ inch pieces.
In a 6-quart pot, heat olive oil over medium and saute onion mixture until soft. Process mixed summer vegetables and add to pot. Saute until tender. Add tomatoes, lemon zest, thyme and rosemary sprig. Mix well and heat through until bubbling. Add Soyrizo and mix well. Add lentils, vegetable broth and bay leaves and stir well. Bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover.
Simmer about 40 minutes. In the last 15 minutes of cooking, Add shredded greens. Stir every few minutes to keep lentils from sticking, and add a little more water if it seems like soup is thickening too much. Test lentils to make sure they are tender and add sea salt to taste.
Enjoy!






