Crockpot Double Lentil, Sausage, Brown Rice, and Spinach Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 onion, diced very small
• 1 carrot, diced very small
• 2 large stalks celery, diced very small
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 T minced garlic
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 tsp. Spike seasoning
• 3 links pre-cooked chicken or turkey sausage, diced in 1/4-1/2 inch pieces, or use more sausage if you want a lower-carb soup
• 1 can petite dice tomatoes with juice
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1/4 cup brown lentils
• 1/4 cup red lentils
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup long-grain brown rice
• 4 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 2 T balsamic vinegar

Directions

1. Cut the onion, carrot, and celery into a very small dice. Warm the olive oil in a sturdy skillet, then cook the diced vegetables until they begin to turn tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme, and Spike seasoning, and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Transfer the seasoned vegetables to the crockpot.
2. Add the sausage pieces to the crockpot, along with the tomatoes and their juice, stock, both kinds of lentils, and salt and pepper. Cook on high for about 3 hours, until the brown lentils are tender and the red lentils are beginning to melt into the soup.
3. Stir in the brown rice and chopped spinach, then cook for about 1 hour longer.
4. Mix in the balsamic vinegar and let the soup cook for 15 minutes more.
5. Serve hot, adding Parmesan cheese if you’d like.
6. For the stove-top version, plan on at least 1 cup additional stock or broth. Warm the oil in a heavy soup pot, then cook the vegetables, garlic, and seasonings using the same method described for the crockpot version.
7. Add the sausage, tomatoes with their liquid, stock, both lentils, and salt and pepper to the pot. Simmer gently over low heat for about 45 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
8. Stir in the brown rice and spinach, and continue simmering for about 30 minutes, until the rice is tender. When the rice and spinach go in, check the pot and add a little more liquid if the soup needs it.
9. Add the balsamic vinegar and simmer for about 5 minutes longer.
10. Serve hot, with Parmesan cheese if desired.