Sweet Italian Sausage with Lentils and Orzo
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups lentils
  • 3 (14.5 oz.) cans low sodium chicken broth or 5½ cups
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage links, cut in ½ in. slices (I left the casings on, but feel free to remove them)
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 1 cup fresh mushrooms, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ¾ cup orzo pasta
  • ¼ tsp. each black pepper, salt
  • 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Instructions
  1. Bring lentils, bay leaves and broth to a boil on high heat in a large pot. Reduce heat to medium/low. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add sausage and cook 10 minutes, stirring often. Add onion, mushrooms, carrots, celery and garlic and cook 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. Turn off heat.
  3. After the lentils have cooked 30 minutes stir in orzo, salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium and cook uncovered 10 minutes or until orzo is done. The starch from the orzo will thicken the broth.
  4. Stir in sausage and vegetable mixture and balsamic vinegar.
Recipe by The Spice Kit Recipes at https://www.thespicekitrecipes.com/italian-sausage-lentils-and-orzo/