Keto Soup Recipes · 6 min read
German Lentil Soup with Sausage | Traditional Linsensuppe Recipe
Warm, hearty German Lentil Soup, or Linsensuppe, combines green lentils with smoky bacon, German sausage, potatoes and carrots in a rich, satisfying broth.
By Monika L. Jensen ·
Warm, hearty and wonderfully comforting, German Lentil Soup, or Linsensuppe, is one of those traditional recipes that feels like a complete meal in a bowl.
This German-inspired lentil soup combines green lentils with smoky bacon, German sausage, potatoes, carrots and onions in a rich broth. A small splash of white wine vinegar at the end provides the acidity that balances all those savory flavors.
It's especially good on a cold day, but this is one of those soups I could happily eat throughout the year. Serve it with a thick slice of crusty bread and you have a simple, satisfying dinner.
Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 45 minutes. Total time: 1 hour. Servings: 4. Calories: 268 per serving.
Watch My German Lentil Soup Video
Want to see the soup come together? Watch my German Lentil Soup video on YouTube for a step-by-step look at how this comforting bowl comes together.
German Lentil Soup Ingredients
- 7–8 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, cubed
- 2 medium potatoes, cubed
- 3/4–1 cup dried green lentils
- 6–7 cups stock
- 2 German sausages, sliced into thin half-rounds
- 1–1½ teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons flour
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
How to Make German Lentil Soup
1. Crisp the Bacon
Place a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook until the bacon is browned with crisp edges. Remove it from the pan and place it on a paper towel to drain. Reserve a little bacon for garnishing the finished soup if desired.
2. Sauté the Onion
Leave enough of the rendered bacon fat in the pot to cook the onion. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until softened. If there isn't enough bacon fat remaining, add a little olive oil.
3. Create the Soup Base
Sprinkle the flour over the onion and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring continuously, until the flour begins to brown. Be careful not to let it burn. This step helps give the finished lentil soup its hearty consistency.
4. Add the Lentils and Broth
Add the drained lentils and cooked bacon to the pot and sauté briefly. Pour in the stock and cover. Bring everything to a gentle boil before reducing the heat. Allow the soup to simmer until the lentils begin to become tender.
5. Add the Vegetables
Add the cubed carrots and potatoes. Continue simmering until the lentils are tender and the vegetables are completely cooked.
6. Finish with German Sausage
Add the sliced German sausage along with approximately 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar. Continue cooking for another couple of minutes. Taste the soup and adjust with salt, pepper and additional vinegar if desired. Cover the pot, remove it from the heat and allow everything to settle before serving.
Chef's Tip
Don't automatically discard the bacon drippings after cooking the bacon. They add wonderful smoky flavor when sautéing the onions. If there isn't enough rendered fat to cook them properly, simply add a small amount of olive oil.
What Makes German Lentil Soup So Satisfying?
Green lentils are perfect for a hearty soup because they hold their shape while still giving the broth plenty of body. Then you have potatoes and carrots for substance, bacon and German sausage providing smoky, savory flavor, and the small amount of white wine vinegar cutting through the richness. The result is somewhere between a traditional soup and a rustic stew.
What Should I Serve with German Lentil Soup?
A thick piece of crusty bread is the classic choice because it's perfect for soaking up the broth. You really don't need much else. This is already a substantial meal with lentils, potatoes, vegetables, bacon and sausage all in one bowl. For something lighter alongside it, serve a simple green salad with a vinaigrette.
Can I Make Linsensuppe Ahead of Time?
Yes. Lentil soup is an excellent make-ahead meal. As it sits, the lentils continue absorbing some of the broth, so don't be surprised if your leftovers are thicker the following day. When reheating, add a little stock if necessary to return the soup to your preferred consistency.
More Soup Recipes from The Balanced Plate
Love homemade soup? You'll find many more of my soup recipes in The Balanced Plate – Healthy Recipes with Keto Alternatives, including Meatball Soup, Tortilla Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Mulligatawny Curry Soup, French Onion Soup, Hearty Miso Soup, Healing Bone Broth, Heirloom Tomato Soup, Butternut Squash Soup, Asparagus Soup and Cauliflower Cheese Soup. From rich comfort-food classics to lighter vegetable soups, The Balanced Plate gives you plenty of options for changing up what's in your soup pot.
From The Balanced Plate
The Balanced Plate – Healthy Recipes with Keto Alternatives by Chef Monika Jensen is now available in stores. For more recipes, cooking videos and healthy meal inspiration, visit ChefMonikaJensen.com.
Watch the recipe video
Recipe card
German Lentil Soup with Sausage
Hearty German lentil soup with green lentils, bacon, German sausage, potatoes and carrots in a rich broth, with a keto alternative.
- Prep
- 15m
- Cook
- 45m
- Serves
- 4 servings
- Net carbs
- 39 g net carbs per serving
Ingredients
- · 7–8 strips bacon, chopped
- · 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- · 1 medium carrot, cubed
- · 2 medium potatoes, cubed
- · 3/4–1 cup dried green lentils
- · 6–7 cups stock
- · 2 German sausages, sliced into thin half-rounds
- · 1–1½ teaspoons white wine vinegar
- · 3 tablespoons flour
- · Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Method
- 1. Crisp the bacon. Cook the chopped bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until browned and crisp. Remove to a paper towel, reserving a little for garnish if desired.
- 2. Sauté the onion. Sauté the finely chopped onion in the rendered bacon fat until softened, adding a little olive oil if needed.
- 3. Create the soup base. Sprinkle the flour over the onion and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the flour begins to brown.
- 4. Add the lentils and broth. Add the drained lentils and cooked bacon, sauté briefly, then pour in the stock. Cover, bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils begin to tenderize.
- 5. Add the vegetables. Add the cubed carrots and potatoes and continue simmering until the lentils and vegetables are tender.
- 6. Finish with sausage. Add the sliced German sausage and about 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar. Cook a few minutes more, then season with salt and pepper and additional vinegar to taste.
Nutrition per serving
268 kcal · 1 g fat · 13 g protein · 53 g carbs · 39 g net carbs per serving net carbs
Frequently asked questions
- What makes German lentil soup different from other lentil soups?
- German lentil soup, or Linsensuppe, is known for its smoky base of bacon and German sausage, plus potatoes and carrots for a hearty, stew-like consistency. A splash of white wine vinegar at the end brightens the rich flavors.
- Can I make this lentil soup keto friendly?
- Yes. For a lower-carb version, reduce or omit the potatoes and carrots and add extra low-carb vegetables such as celery, cauliflower or extra greens. The bacon, sausage and lentils still provide plenty of satisfying flavor.
- What should I serve with German lentil soup?
- Crusty bread is the traditional choice for soaking up the broth. A simple green salad with vinaigrette is a nice lighter pairing.
- Can I make Linsensuppe ahead of time?
- Absolutely. Lentil soup keeps well and often tastes even better the next day. The lentils will absorb more broth as it sits, so add a little extra stock when reheating to reach your desired consistency.