Beer makes batters better, meat more tender, and sauces more flavorful.

Lentils, sausage, and a veggie-packed broth make up this copycat recipe for Carrabba's famous lentil soup.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 stalks celery, sliced
6 ounces smoked sausage, chopped
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
4 cups water
2 cups green lentils
1 strip (3 inches long) orange peel
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried savory
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
salt and pepper, to taste
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes.
Add the celery and sausage. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
Add the stock, water, lentils, orange rind, marjoram, and savory. Bring the soup to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer. Partially cover the saucepan and let simmer for 30 minutes.
Add the carrots and potatoes to the soup. Partially cover the pan again and let simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are soft.
Remove the orange peel from the soup and discard.
Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed and serve the soup hot.
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reviews & comments
March 31, 2020
This is hit at my house!!
July 10, 2010
I love this recipe I took the advice of the other comment that worked for Carrabba's and added a tiny bit of fennel and crushed red peppers flakes since my sausage did not contain fennel and i felt it needed a a boost. This was a great soup just like had at Carrabba's . Will keep as a favorite!
I worked at Carrabba's for a long time and still LOVE the food. I know that they use Italian Fennel sausage. I worry that if someone uses a kielbasa the flavor will not be exactly right...
August 28, 2009
This recipe had a good flavor to it, and it wasn't hard to make. I added salt to mine, and it brought out the flavors a little more.
September 14, 2007
This is a great soup. Tasted just like what we had there. Hubby loves it!!!