Black Lentil Stew with Sausage and Kale

There's nothing like a big, steaming bowl of comfort food to make everything seem all right, and this dark but delightful black lentil stew with sausage and kale is no exception. Sausage and lentils is a marriage made in heaven, and so good together, that not even kale can ruin it. I'm kidding, and actually love kale, but if you're not the biggest fan in the world, maybe try it one more time in this.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 549 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
• 1 large carrot, cubed
• 2 tablespoons sour cream, or to taste
• 1 rib celery, chopped
• 1 large tomato, diced (Optional)
• 1 (12 ounce) ring smoked garlic sausage, sliced
• 1 ½ cups black lentils
• 2 bunches lacinato (dinosaur) kale

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Saute onion, carrot, and celery until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add sausage; mix to coat. Stir in bay leaf and lentils. Pour in broth; season with salt and pepper. Increase heat and bring soup to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until lentils start to swell up, about 20 minutes.

Step 2

In the meantime, pull kale leaves away from the stem. Roll leaves up and chop into ribbons. Place in a colander and wash.

Step 3

Stir kale and tomato into the soup. Cook until kale and lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Taste and season as desired.

Step 4

Ladle soup into serving bowls and garnish with sour cream and cayenne pepper.