Beef broth based. Smoked sausage or Kielbasa.

Ingredients

1-½ cu. lentils, washed and drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
1 lb. Polish Kielbasa, or other smoked sausage
4 cu. beef broth
3 cu. water
2 T tomato paste
1-½ T red wine vinegar
1 t. paprika
½ t. black pepper
1 sm. bay leaf
Pinch thyme
Salt to taste

Directions

In soup pot, combine lentils, garlic, onion, celery, carrot and sausage. Stir in beef broth, water, tomato paste and vinegar, paprika, pepper, bay leaf and thyme.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour until lentils are done. If you wish to puree soup, remove sausage now and set aside. Using blender or food processor, puree soup until smooth. Return soup to the pot and return sausage to the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve very hot. Makes six servings.