French Lentil Soup With Garlic Sausage

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup diced carrot (1/4-inch dice)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 3 medium garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
• 6 ounces garlic sausage, cut into 1/4-inch dice (kielbasa)
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme (I would start with 1 t., as this is a strong herb)
• 9 cups beef stock
• 2 bay leaves, broken in half
• 1 lb french green lentil (2 cups, Puy lentils)
• kosher salt
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. When hot, add the carrots, onion, and celery; cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are just softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, sausage, and thyme; cook 1 minute.
4. Add the stock, bay leaves, and bring mixture to a simmer over high heat.
5. Stir in the lentils, then decrease heat, cover, and cook at a gently simmer until tender, about 50 minutes.
6. Remove and discard the bay leaves; remove the garlic pieces and transfer to food processor.
7. Using a slotted spoon, strain 1/2 cup solids from the soup and puree them with garlic pieces in a food processor.
8. Stir the pureed mixture into the pot; this will thicken the soup slightly.
9. Taste soup and season with salt, as needed.
10. To serve, ladle the soup into 6 serving bowls and sprinkle some parsley over each serving.

olive oil, carrot, onion, celery, garlic, garlic sausage, thyme, beef stock, bay leaves, kosher salt, flat leaf parsley

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/french-lentil-soup-with-garlic-sausage-473200 (may not work)