Spicy Sausage Lentil Soup

INGREDIENTS

Ham Broth

1 Smoked Ham Hock (or leftover ham shank bone)

2 carrots, whole

1 medium yellow onion, cut in half

3 celery stalks, whole

1 tsp dry thyme

2 bay leaves

8 cups of water

3 whole cloves of garlic

Soup

1 pound spicy Italian sausage (or mild if you prefer)

1 medium onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

3 celery stalks, diced

1 tsp dry thyme

1 bay leaf

1 bag lentils

1 (15 oz. can) stewed tomatoes

Ham broth

8 oz. Shredded Parmesan (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. To the inner pot of your Deluxe Multi Cooker, add your ham hocks (or ham bone), carrot, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, and bay leaves. No need to dice or cut these. They can be cut in half or smaller if you need to make them fit nicely in the pot. Fill the inner pot with water to the "fill line." Place the lid on, and set to "CUSTOM" for 90 minutes.

2. Once the timer is up, manually release the pressure. Using your Spider Strainer, remove all the large pieces from the inner pot and place in your Small Batter Bowl. Pour the remaining broth into your Classic Batter Bowl and set aside to cool.

3. With your Small Chef's Tongs discard the carrot, celery, garlic, onion, and remaining items from the broth. Keep the ham bone and ham meat in the Batter Bowl. Grab the ham bone with your Small Chef's Tongs and use a fork to remove the meat from the bone. Set the meat aside in a 3 Cup Prep Bowl.

4. Place the inner pot back into the Deluxe Multi Cooker, and set to "SEAR" (high heat). While the pot warms up, add your sausage and diced onion. Using your Mix 'n Chop, break up the sausage so it's crumbled. Once the sausage is cooked all the way through, mince the garlic cloves with the Adjustable Zester and add to the sausage and onion mixture. Cook the garlic for 30 seconds or until fragrant.

5. Add the diced carrot and celery to the inner pot of the pressure cooker and continue to saute until softened (4-6 minutes).

6. Once the veggies are softened, add your lentils, picked ham meat, thyme, and bay leaf. Open the stewed tomatoes with your Smooth-Edge Can Opener, and add to the inner pot.

7. Fill the inner pot with your ham broth to the PC Max Fill Line. Place the lid on, and set to "CUSTOM" for 10 minutes. Once the cycle is finished manually release the pressure.

8. Serve immediately with shredded parmesan cheese on top. Enjoy!