Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Lentil Soup - Linsensuppe


One of the comfort foods of my childhood is Linsensuppe or Lentil Soup. My mother was an excellent cook (she cooked in a restaurant for many years) but she never wrote any recipes down. This is how I remember her lentil soup and it takes pretty close to the original.

Linsensuppe - Lentil Soup

1 cup lentils
8 cups water or stock
1 potato, diced
2 carrots, diced or sliced
2 ribs celery, diced or sliced
1 onion, minced
1 pound bratwurst
salt to taste

I don't feel that the lentils needs soaking since they are so small. I boil in the water for about 10 minutes. Then add the vegetables and continue simmering for about 20 minutes.

I take the bratwurst and remove the casing and make small meatballs and brown in a skillet. I believe it is also possible to simply boil the brats in the soup and then when done, remove the casing and slice into small bites and return to the soup. I like the taste and looks of the browned meatballs.

I then add the browned meatballs to the soup and continue simmering for another 10-15 minutes.

My mother would not approve of the shape of my meatballs because I am not a perfectionist when it comes to this task. But, they will taste the same. Unfortunately, I do not have the bratwurst I grew up with. In fact, I even like my childhood bratwurst better than what I can find in Germany. The Amana Meat Shop in Amana, Iowa, makes fantastic brats, but for today, I used Johnsonville which comes in a close second.

8 comments:

  1. This sounds perfect for a foggy winter day. I'll have to give Johnsonville brats a try.

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  2. Susan, this sounds like a marvelous soup. I love the addition of the bratwurst meatballs. They must really give the soup a terrific flavor & texture.

    I'll have to scout around and see where I can find a good quality bratwurst. Many thanks...

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  3. Hi Susan, Our weather has turned again today hasn't it? Yesterday was beautiful and now a Florida cold front. It is windy and cloudy here today so I am imagining that it is actually cold out and thinking that this soup would be just the ticket. love the meatball idea.

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  4. This is one of my favorite soups, Susan. Lentils are so hearty and healthy. This is soup weather to be sure.

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  5. I really enjoy lentil soup. The addition of bratwurst is really interesting and must add a unique flavor. Delicious!

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  6. Great soup to make here in the heart of brat country! Most of the groceries have their "own" signature brats around here, we haven't found a favorite just like them all.

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  7. We love Bratwurst too! Used to live in Germany with the Royal Air Force..and just recently went there, just had to have a Bratty, as us Brits would say...!

    Would you brown the little brat meatballs first or not?

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  8. This sounds delicious! I love lentil soup. Adding bratwurst would be such a treat!

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