How to Make Carrabba’s Lentil Soup Recipe At Home
If you have ever been to Carrabba’s before, there is a very good chance that you have dined on this delicious soup. Their lentil soup recipe is an absolute hit in any setting, whether you are looking for the perfect cold-weather meal or you need something quick and healthy for those warmer, busier times. As for those who have never tasted this Carrabba’s Lentil Soup recipe before?
All it takes is one bite for you to see what all of the fuss is about. There is something about a piping hot soup and a hunk of crusty bread that simply hits differently. Best of all, this soup is incredibly easy to make. It can be stored with ease, you will not need to spend much to make it and it does not take very long to make, either.
It’s all upside, in other words. We love to take a Tupperware container full of this soup to work with us and it is also great to have some on hand for those days when we do not have the time or energy to think of any dinner ideas. Any readers who are worried about not having access to the necessary spices can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you do not need to have a pantry filled with expensive spices.
We are happy to report that this soup only gets better with time as well. You will definitely know the difference once it is time to store some in your fridge. It freezes nicely, allowing longer-term storage and keeping you from having to come up with a new meal plan on a daily basis. Feel free to double or triple the batch as needed, so that you have plenty of delicious soup to enjoy for months at a time.
Substitutions + Notes
Of course, what would this Carrabba’s Lentil Soup recipe be without some helpful notes and substitutions? For starters, if you are looking to leave behind the chicken broth and swap it out for something different, there is nothing wrong with that. You can use bouillon cubes instead. Sausage or bulk can be used in the casing as well.
If you decide to use sausage in the casing, be sure to take a moment to cut it into quarter-inch cubes first. In our humble opinion, the best kind to get is the type that has the thick fennel flavor. Those who are feeling truly ambitious are able to make their own Italian sausage. As for the at-home chef who is looking for something a bit lighter, you can use Italian-style turkey sausage as a viable substitute.
Of course, we are always thinking about the vegetarian reader. If you would like to make this soup into a usable menu option in your own home, there are a few easy substitutions that can be made. Vegetable broth can be used instead and the pork sausage can be swapped out for plant-based alternatives.
Recipe Variations
Everyone likes to come home to a nice, warm meal on the table and that’s why we are here to provide our readers with all of the necessary tips and pointers. Did you know that you can take this Carrabba’s Lentil Soup recipe and convert it from the stovetop to your slow cooker? All it takes is a few simple changes and you are going to be all set.
For starters, sauté your sausage in a pan on the stove and use oil. Once this step is complete, take a moment to transfer your cooked sausage into the aforementioned slow cooker. At this time, the remaining ingredients are now added to the mix. Place your slow cooker on the low setting for 6 to 8 hours. The soup is ready once the lentils are fully tender, so be sure to keep a close eye on them while they are cooking.
If you are looking for a creamier, thicker soup, we are here to help. There are a few easy steps that you can take. You can puree some or all of the soup so that the consistency is changed for the better. If you have an immersion blender, this is the perfect chance to break it out. You can use a regular blender if you have one but an immersion blender is best. When you are blending hot ingredients, you want to be careful about overfilling the blender.
When the top of the blender is more than a third full, you are taking a major risk. Be careful during this step and make sure that your soup does not splatter as a result of this decision-making.
Prep + Cook Time
Prep time will only take 15 minutes, while cook time is roughly 90 minutes. This will allow starting chowing down in less than 2 hours. If you follow this recipe, you will have 8 servings.
Ingredients
- Diced white onion (1 cup)
- Diced carrot (1/2 cup)
- Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
- Diced celery (1/2 cup)
- Salt (1/2 teaspoon)
- Butter or olive oil (2 tablespoons)
- Italian sausage (1 pound)
- Low sodium chicken broth (48 ounces)
- Italian seasoning (1 1/2 teaspoons)
- Canned diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
- Brown lentils (1 cup)
Step by Step Cooking Instructions
Step 1:
Once you are ready to get started, grab your large pot. It is time to sauté the onions, carrots, garlic, and celery with the salt. You can use either olive oil or butter. You will know that it is time to move on to the next step when the onions have had the chance to become translucent.
Step 2:
Now, it is time for us to add the sausage and cook it until it has become fully browned. You should also be taking the time to break it apart as it is in the process of cooking. For best results, you will also want to drain any and all excess oil from your pot.
Step 3:
The chicken broth, Italian seasoning, brown lentils and diced tomatoes are all added to the mix now. From there, we are now able to move on to the final and most crucial step of the cooking process.
Step 4:
At long last, your soup is nearing completion. Make sure that it is covered with a quality lid and allow it to simmer for a period of roughly 1 hour. You will also want to keep a close eye on the cooking process, as a sizable amount of water may end up evaporating. If this is the case, this is your cue to add some more to the pot.
