Best 8 Lentil Escarole Soup Cooks Illustrated Recipes

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Indulge in a comforting and nutritious culinary journey with our Lentil Escarole Soup extravaganza! This hearty and flavorful soup is not only a delectable treat but also a powerhouse of essential nutrients. Brimming with the goodness of protein-rich lentils, vitamin-packed escarole, and an array of aromatic spices, this soup is a true nourishment for both body and soul. Dive into our carefully curated collection of recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish. From the traditional Italian rendition to the vibrant Moroccan-inspired version, these recipes cater to diverse palates and dietary preferences. Whether you prefer a quick and easy weeknight meal or a leisurely weekend indulgence, our Lentil Escarole Soup extravaganza has something for every occasion.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

LENTIL AND ESCAROLE SOUP



Lentil and Escarole Soup image

This hearty and healthy soup is wonderful all winter long.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Soups, Stews & Stocks     Soup Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
1 small carrot, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup French green lentils
1 bay leaf
2 whole canned tomatoes, drained, seeded, and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 slices Italian bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/2 escarole, cut crosswise into 1-inch strips
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • In a stockpot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and carrot, and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add lentils, bay leaf, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and 5 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until lentils are tender, about 40 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat oven to 425 degrees. Toast bread cubes on a baking sheet, turning occasionally until golden brown, about 7 minutes.
  • Add escarole to soup, and cook for 5 minutes more. Adjust seasonings, and serve in four bowls topped with croutons and olive oil.

SLOW-COOKER MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL SOUP



Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Lentil Soup image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Time 4h30m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

Two 32-ounce boxes chicken stock (8 cups)
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup green lentils, rinsed
1/2 cup jarred marinated artichokes, drained
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and julienned, plus 1 tablespoon oil from the jar
1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon paste
3 sprigs fresh oregano
1 onion, diced
2 cups escarole, julienned
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Crusty bread, for serving

Steps:

  • Place the chicken stock, carrots, lentils, artichokes, celery, sun-dried tomatoes and tablespoon of their oil, bouillon paste, oregano and onion in a slower cooker. Cook until the lentils are tender, on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Stir in the escarole, lemon zest and juice and let sit 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve with crusty bread alongside.

LENTIL SOUP WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND ESCAROLE



Lentil Soup with Italian Sausage and Escarole image

Provided by Maggie Ruggiero

Categories     Soup/Stew     Vegetable     Quick & Easy     Father's Day     Dinner     Meat     Sausage     Lentil     Fall     Escarole     Gourmet     Dairy Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added

Yield Makes 6 to 8 (main course) servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 2/3 cups lentils (11 ounces), rinsed well
5 cups water
3 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped, divided
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian sausage links, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 pound escarole, chopped (4 cups packed)
1 to 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
Accompaniment: croutons

Steps:

  • Simmer lentils, water, broth, bay leaf, and half of garlic in a 4-quart pot, uncovered, 12 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a wide heavy 5- to 6-quart pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Brown sausage, about 7 minutes. Transfer sausage with a slotted spoon to a bowl.
  • Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, carrots, celery, remaining garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add sausage and lentils with cooking liquid and simmer, uncovered, until lentils are tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Stir in escarole and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar to taste and season with salt and pepper. Discard bay leaf.

LENTIL & ESCAROLE SOUP (COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)



Lentil & Escarole Soup (Cook's Illustrated) image

This was yummy! I wanted to try something new and decided on this and was glad I did. Cook's Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen seldom ever lets me down. I served this over large croutons I made from stale bread I had in the freezer by cutting it into large cubes and toasting/drying it out in the oven.

Provided by Twiggyann

Categories     Clear Soup

Time 1h25m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium carrot, diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 celery, finely diced
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
3 cups water
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can small diced tomatoes
8 ounces brown lentils
1 parmesan cheese, rind (about 2 inches by 4 inches)
2 bay leaves
1 head escarole, cut into 1/2 inch wide strips (about 8 ounces)
salt
pepper
parmesan cheese (to garnish)

Steps:

  • Heat the olive oil in a 6 qt heavy sauce pan or dutch oven over medium heat until it starts to shimmer.
  • Add the onion, garlic, celery, carrot, parsley and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook until the vegetables are soft and reduced -- about 15 -20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Increase the heat to medium high, add the broth, water, tomatoes, lentil, Parmesan rind & bay leaves and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour - 1 1/4 hours until the lentils are soft.
  • Stir in escarole and cook for about 5 minutes until wilted. Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese.

LENTIL AND ESCAROLE SOUP



Lentil and Escarole Soup image

The combination of legumes and bitter greens like escarole is common in southern Italy. Escarole is a bitter lettuce that looks a little bit like frisée but with wider, tougher leaves. It's high in vitamin A and a good source of iron and potassium. This recipe is adapted from one in "Cucina Rustica," by Evan Kleiman and Viana La Place. If you can't find escarole, you can substitute any hearty green.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, easy, lunch, weekday, soups and stews, appetizer, main course

Time 1h10m

Yield Serves four to six

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 large or 2 small carrots, cut in small dice
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes, with juice; or 3/4 pound tomatoes, seeded and grated
1 cup lentils, washed and picked over
A bouquet garni made with a bay leaf, a few sprigs each thyme and parsley, and a Parmesan rind
6 cups water
Salt
freshly ground pepper
1 small head escarole, washed and roughly chopped about 6 cups
Optional: 4 to 6 slices country bread, toasted and rubbed with a cut clove of garlic

Steps:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and carrots. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant, five to 10 minutes. Add the lentils and simmer with the tomato mixture for a few minutes, then add the bouquet garni and the water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and add salt to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons). Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
  • Add the escarole, and bring back to a simmer. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the escarole and the lentils are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the bouquet garni.
  • Toast slices of country bread if desired and rub with a cut clove of garlic. Place a slice in each bowl, ladle in the soup and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 172, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 778 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams

LENTIL AND CHICKEN SOUP WITH SWEET POTATOES AND ESCAROLE



Lentil and Chicken Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Escarole image

Turn a leftover roast chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken into a hearty dinner soup in just about half an hour, then add a nice dose of brightness to it with lots of fresh dill and lemon juice.

Provided by Anna Stockwell

Categories     Soup/Stew     Chicken     Sweet Potato/Yam     Lentil     Celery     Garlic     Escarole     Dill     Lemon Juice     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Quick and Healthy     Healthy     Winter     Dinner

Yield 4-6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cooked chicken carcass (from 1 store-bought rotisserie chicken or homemade roast chicken)
1 lb. sweet potatoes (about 2 medium), peeled, cut into 1" pieces
3/4 cup French lentils (about 5 oz.), rinsed
1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
10 celery stalks, sliced on the bias into 1/4" slices
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken (from 1/2 of a store-bought rotisserie chicken or homemade roast chicken)
1/2 head escarole, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup finely chopped dill
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Steps:

  • Place chicken carcass, potatoes, lentils, and 1 tsp. salt in a large pot. Cover with 8 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, skimming off any foam, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are fork tender and lentils are cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Discard chicken carcass.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high. Add celery and garlic and cook, stirring often, until celery and garlic are lightly golden brown and tender, about 12 minutes.
  • Stir celery, garlic, shredded chicken, and escarole into soup and cook, stirring occasionally, until escarole is wilted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in dill and lemon juice; season soup with salt.

LENTIL AND ESCAROLE SOUP



Lentil and Escarole Soup image

By Michele Scicolone. This is one of our family favorites. We serve this for dinner with some bruschetta or olive bread.

Provided by Raqstar

Categories     Lentil

Time 1h35m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 yellow onion, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 small carrots, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups peeled peeled seeded and chopped tomatoes with juice (fresh or canned)
2 1/4 cups green lentils (1 lb)
8 cups chicken stock, 64 fl.ozs. or 8 cups meat stock, 64 fl oz
1 small escarole, chopped
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese or 1/2 cup pecorino romano cheese

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the onion, celery and carrots in the olive oil, stirring frequently, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes to reduce the liquid.
  • Pick over the lentils, discarding any stones or misshapen lentils. Rinse well and stir into the saucepan. Stir well; add the stock, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, until partially softened, about 30 minutes. Add the escarole, salt, and pepper and cook until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes longer.
  • Ladle into warmed soup plates and sprinkle with the cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 522.5, Fat 15.8, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 14.4, Sodium 731.5, Carbohydrate 64.9, Fiber 26.4, Sugar 10.5, Protein 31.4

LENTIL AND ESCAROLE SOUP



LENTIL AND ESCAROLE SOUP image

Categories     Soup/Stew     Bean     Vegetarian     Simmer

Yield 4-6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 large or 2 small carrots, cut in small dice
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes, with juice; or 3/4 pound tomatoes, seeded and grated
1 cup lentils, washed and picked over
A bouquet garni made with a bay leaf, a few sprigs each thyme and parsley, and a Parmesan rind
6 cups water
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 small head escarole, washed and roughly chopped (about 6 cups)
Optional: 4 to 6 slices country bread, toasted and rubbed with a cut clove of garlic

Steps:

  • 1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and carrots. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Stir in the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant, five to 10 minutes. Add the lentils and simmer with the tomato mixture for a few minutes, then add the bouquet garni and the water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and add salt to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons). Cover and simmer 30 minutes. 2. Add the escarole, and bring back to a simmer. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the escarole and the lentils are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the bouquet garni. 3. Toast slices of country bread if desired and rub with a cut clove of garlic. Place a slice in each bowl, ladle in the soup and serve.

Tips:

  • Use dried lentils: Dried lentils retain their shape and texture better than canned lentils, resulting in a soup with a more satisfying bite.
  • Rinse the lentils thoroughly: This removes any dirt or debris and helps to prevent the soup from becoming cloudy.
  • Sauté the aromatics: Sautéing the onions, garlic, and carrots in olive oil adds flavor and depth to the soup.
  • Use a good quality vegetable broth: The broth is the foundation of the soup, so it's important to use a good quality broth that is flavorful and well-seasoned.
  • Add the escarole in stages: Add the escarole in stages to prevent the soup from becoming too bitter.
  • Season to taste: Season the soup with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
  • Serve with crusty bread or crackers: Lentil escarole soup is a hearty and satisfying soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. Serve it with crusty bread or crackers for a complete meal.

Conclusion:

Lentil escarole soup is a delicious and nutritious soup that is easy to make. It is a great way to use up leftover lentils and escarole, and it is a healthy and satisfying meal. The soup is also a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy soup recipe, give lentil escarole soup a try.

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