Split Pea, Vegetable, and Chicken Sausage Soup

Servings: 6–8
Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 10 cups homemade chicken broth*
• 2 cups peeled and diced russet potatoes
• 2 cups green split peas, rinsed
• 2 teaspoons dried marjoram
• 2 teaspoons Himalayan Salt
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 cups skinless, fully cooked chicken sausage, diced

Source ingredients that you know are pesticide free.

Recipe for homemade chicken broth here.

Directions:

Heat the coconut oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until soft and just beginning to brown, about 7–8 minutes. Add the carrots and celery and cook for another minute, stirring a few times.

Stir in the broth, potatoes, split peas, marjoram, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low-medium. Cover pot and simmer for 60 minutes, or until the split peas are fully cooked.

Remove the bay leaf, stir in the Parmesan cheese, and remove from heat. Puree the soup in the pot using an immersion blender or in batches in a blender or food processor (then return soup to the pot).

Add the diced sausage and heat gently just to serving temperature. Taste and adjust salt and pepper, if needed, before serving.

Stephanie from Sierra Madre, California, won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit your recipes and photos here.

Cream of Carrot and Red Lentil Soup with Dairy-Free Option

Servings: 6–8
Preparation Time: approximately 50 minutes, including cooking time

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 pound carrots, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups red lentils, rinsed and drained
• 2 teaspoons coriander
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 6 cups chicken broth*
• 2 cups whole milk or fresh coconut milk**
• Himalayan Pink Salt, to taste
• black pepper, to taste

Optional garnishes: dried coconut flakes or lightly toasted or fresh minced parsley

*Make Your Own Chicken Broth – recipe here.

**Make Your Own Fresh Coconut Milk – for the freshest coconut milk, make homemade coconut milk. (See video at this link.)

Directions:

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the coconut oil over medium heat until hot, then add the onions and carrots and sauté about 7 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the red lentils, coriander, and cumin, mixing well. Cook and stir for 1 minute.

Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20–25 minutes, or until the lentils and carrots are tender.

Remove the pot from the heat and cool slightly.

Puree the soup in the pot using an immersion blender or in batches in a food processor or blender.

If you did not use an immersion blender, return the processed soup to the pot. Stir in your milk of choice, season to taste with salt and pepper, and reheat gently to the desired serving temperature, being careful not to boil the soup.

Garnish each serving with a sprinkling of toasted coconut flakes or fresh minced parsley, if desired.

Note: The soup in the photo was made using whole milk and garnished with toasted coconut.

Stephanie from Sierra Madre, California, won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit your recipes and photos here!