Lentil Soup with Smoked Sausage

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 pound lentils (about 2 1/3 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups drained canned diced tomatoes (one 15-ounce can)
• 2 1/2 quarts water, more if needed
• 4 teaspoons dried summer savory, or 1/4 cup chopped fresh savory
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound kielbasa or other smoked sausage

1. In a large pot, heat the oil over moderate heat.
2. Add the celery, onion, and carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Add the lentils, tomatoes, water, dried savory, if using, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
4. Bring to a simmer.
5. Reduce the heat and cook, partially covered, until the lentils are tender, about 40 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick frying pan over moderately high heat.
7. Add the sausage and cook, turning, until browned, about 3 minutes in all.
8. Remove.
9. When the sausage is cool enough to handle, cut it crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
10. Stir the sausage and fresh savory, if using, into the soup and simmer it for 5 minutes longer.
11. Remove the bay leaf.
12. If the soup is too thick for your taste, thin it with additional water.

cooking oil, celery, onion, carrot, lentils, tomatoes, water, summer, bay leaf, salt, freshground black pepper, kielbasa

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/lentil-soup-smoked-sausage (may not work)