Italian Lentil Soup

On a cold winter day in Upstate N.Y., Grandma and I would sit there sorting these tiny rocks from a bag of dried lentils to make this delicious Italian Lentil Soup.

She would wash them over and over again to make sure these beans in that package were clean and perfect for her soup, then soak overnight.

Grandma always wanted to make sure all the impurities on them were gone.

Soaking is still a must as well as sorting, but you can soak lentils in the crockpot to speed up the process but it really isn't necessary if you patiently wait for them to cook.

This was a typical soup we had on New Year's Eve.

Italians celebrate the New Year as lentils symbolize good luck and made a hearty meal with lentils and added sausage.

Traditionally lentils are a natural symbol for abundance, and have come to represent money and good fortune with it!

Grandma, back in the 1960s, would always cook everything from scratch and didn't have fancy appliances like we do today.

This soup is easier and quicker to make now than what I remember using newer methods.

I still carry her lentil soup recipe traditions, it's the best along with another family favorite, her love her chicken soup

If you would like a printable copy scroll all the way down to my recipe card and hit print.

Comforting Lentil Soup

If you grew up in the winter in Upstate Utica New York in an all Italian household, you will remember mom or grandma making this soup all winter long.


It was a staple in our home and I still love this delicious soup along with my family through the generations.


Back in the 1960s, this was considered a very economical meal to feed a large family, so we had it once a week.


Although I do not make it much living in Florida, those childhood memories or mom and grandma making this comforting soup will always be one of my finest memories in the kitchen.

Healthy

Lentil soup is a nutritional powerhouse.


It combines the nutrients, protein, good carbs and fiber in lentils with the antioxidant power of veggies, herbs, and spices.


Grandma also added a little good fat from the extra virgin olive oil rounds it out into a perfectly balanced meal.


Lentils are especially high in B vitamins and minerals like iron, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.


As I said previously this soup is incredibly easy to make and really inexpensive, you can make a giant pot of soup that will feed many people for under ten dollars!

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Ingredients You Will Need

• dried lentil
• chicken broth
• white wine
• extra virgin olive oil
• fresh parsley
• garlic cleaned
• garlic powder
• Optional: 1 cup diced tomatoes,1 sauteed diced onion. grated cheese for garnishing, hard-crusted Italian bread for dipping, crackers or croutons.
• 1 head of escarole cleaned and boiled making sure they are cooked through the drain, then chopped fine when cooled
• salt, pepper to taste
• carrots, celery
• (for meat flavoring, add ham bone or prosciutto while simmering.)Grandma would usually put bacon or ham in this for flavoring

Italian Lentil Soup

1. 1 cup dried lentil washed and sorted soaked overnight in water with 1/2 teaspoon salt or do the whole package and freeze the rest.
2. 4 cups chicken broth (I make my own click here)
3. 1/2 cup white wine
4. 4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
5. 2 sprigs of fresh parsley
6. 3 cloves garlic cleaned
7. 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
8. Optional: 1 cup diced tomatoes,1 sauteed diced onion
9. 1 head of escarole cleaned and boiled making sure they are cooked through drain, then chopped fine when cooled
10. 1/2 teaspoon of salt, pepper to taste
11. a handful of carrots, 2 stalks celery
12. (for meat flavoring, add ham bone or prosciutto while simmering.)Grandma would usually put bacon or ham in this for flavoring

Directions:

 Sort the lentils, then place dry lentils in water with salt and soak for at least 3 to 4 hours. Drain and rinse.

Process in food processor garlic, celery, garlic, parsley ( grandma chopped by hand).

Put oil in a large soup pot, add the minced vegetables, carrots and tomatoes escarole, garlic powder, add salt and pepper to taste.

Add any meat if using (IE bacon, ham, Italian sliced sausage or even pepperoni slice).

Grandma used whatever we had, or sometimes all vegetarian.

When the carrots are cooked I take them out and puree them. Add back to the soup for flavor.

Add wine and broth and cover pot. Bring to boil, lower heat, add lentils. Simmer until lentil are cooked add more chicken broth if gets too thick if you prefer a thinner soup. Soup is very thick, Serve with Italian Fresh grated cheese and crusty Italian bread.

Note Why Do We Soak Them?

It's interesting why lentils are soaked, here's the answer: it turns out lentils in general unsoaked are not good for digestion.


Apparently, the outer shell of lentils (and some beans) contains anti-nutrients that can interfere with digestion.


The solution is to soak them, thereby neutralizing the anti-nutrients.

Some Lentil History

The best-known lentil soup comes not from a manual of classic cuisine but from the biblical story of Jacob and Esau and is mentioned in the Bible: In Genesis 25:30-34, as Esau is prepared to give up his birthright for a pot of fragrant red lentil soup being cooked by his brother, Jacob.


In fact, lentils go back even further in history.


Originating in the Middle East, lentils are believed to be the first legume ever cultivated.


In Jewish tradition, lentil soup has been served at times of mourning; the roundness of the lentil represents a complete cycle of life.


Lastly, lentils are a superfood, they are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber.


In addition, they are rich in iron, potassium, and folate. They contain virtually no fat and are cholesterol-free.

Italian Lentil Soup

Yield: 8

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

prep time: 15 Mcook time: total time: 15 M

A super-rich lentil homemade soup that's full of health benefits.
Pure comfort food at its finest!

ingredients:

• 1 cup dried lentil washed and sorted soaked overnight in water or at least for 4 hours with 1/2 teaspoon salt or do the whole package in the crockpot ( around 4 hours on low) you can use them for another meal. 
• 4 cups chicken broth (I make my own click here)
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 sprigs of fresh parsley
• 3 cloves garlic cleaned
• 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• Optional: 1 cup diced tomatoes,1 sauteed diced onion. grated cheese for garnishing, hard-crusted Italian bread for dipping, crackers or croutons.
• 1 head of escarole cleaned chopped and boiled, making sure they are cooked through and drain
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt, pepper to taste
• a handful of carrots, 2 stalks celery
• (for meat flavoring, add ham bone or prosciutto while simmering.)
• Grandma would usually put a pound of sliced sausage, bacon or ham in this for flavoring

instructions:

How to cook Italian Lentil Soup

1. Place fresh lentils in a crockpot filled to the top for a few hours (up to 4) with water on low around or make to package instructions. Drain and rinse this is to soften and get the dirt particles out. (Grandma soaked in water with salt for at least 4 hours or boiled for 30 minutes.)
2.  Add and process in a food processor the garlic, celery, parsley ( grandma chopped by hand).
3. Put oil in a large soup pot, add the minced vegetables, carrots and tomatoes escarole, garlic powder, add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add any meat if using (IE bacon, ham, Italian sliced sausage or even pepperoni slice).
5. Grandma used whatever we had, or sometimes all vegetarian.
6. When the carrots are cooked I take them out and puree them. Add back to the soup for flavor.
7. Add wine and broth and cover pot. 
8. Bring to boil, lower heat, add lentils. 
9. Simmer until lentil are cooked add more chicken broth if it gets too thick if you prefer a thinner soup. 
10. This takes around 1 hour or longer.
11. Using a pressure cooker around 35 minutes.
12. Slow cooker 8 to 10 hours on low.
13. Soup is very thick, Serve with Italian Fresh grated cheese and crusty Italian bread.
14. Note: If you want to use the whole package of lentil, add more liquid accordingly.

Calories
229

Fat (grams)
19

Sat. Fat (grams)
11

Carbs (grams)
32

Fiber (grams)
19

Net carbs
18

Sugar (grams)
6

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2010/03/lentil-and-escarole-soup.html

Italian lentil soup, lentil escarole soup, soup recipes, lentil soup recipe, bean soup, best lentil soup

soup, lentils, beans,

Italian

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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2010. It was edited and re-published in 2019.