Spicy Lentil And Sausage Soup

This is a great soup and in fact it is the national soup of Egypt. It is sold on the streets from huge containers. It is relatively easy to make.

You will need:

2 lbs lentils soaked overnight

2 carrots

1 onion

1 Celery stalk

1 head of garlic

3 bay leaves

Turmeric

Cumin

Olive oil

Portuguese linguice or other smoked sausage

1 tablespoon flour

1/2 can of tomatoes

a few hot dried peppers to taste

2 or 3 slices of bacon cut into small strips for taste.

stock or water

Heat the oil in an appropriate saucepan. Cut the bacon into strips and add to the oil, cook lightly and then add the chopped vegetables and cook until all the flavors blend.
Add the lentils and allow to cook for a few minutes until you can smell all the flavors blending. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and peppers and cook them for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes with the juice and also the spices and the flour. Mix well. Add the stock or water and bring to boil. Add the sausages. Season and simmer on the stove or in a crock pot until the lentils are tender and all the flavors come to the fore.

Correct seasoning and serve.

This is a basic recipe. You can add lamb to this recipe. You can add other sausages or a ham hock or even ground beef.

Of course we learned very quickly in the middle east that you do not put pork in any of the soups.