Mediterranean Pesto Sausage Soup

Seems I've been on a soup kick. Is that so wrong? Soups are healthy, filling, easy to make and are usually fairly economical as well.

We eat them at least twice a week, especially in the winter and this one was a new recipe I recently came across that is Fabulous. With a capital F.

olive oil
1 pound smoked pork sausage
1 red onion, finely diced
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1 pound red lentils
28 ounces chopped tomatoes
8 cups chicken broth
½ cup fresh basil, julienned
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
4 ounces pesto

Saute the smoked pork sausage in the olive oil until broken up and browned. Add the red onion and garlic and saute until onion is tender.

Add the lentils, tomatoes and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour or until lentils are tender and breaking up.

Add salt, pepper and pesto and serve with julienned basil for garnish.