I’m a huge fan of meal-in-a-bowl soups and pastas. When I saw a feature on brown rice in Saveur, I was drawn to the recipe that combined so many good ingredients: brown rice, lentils, sausage and vegetables.

My adaptation has become a family favorite, a soup I’ve been known to eat for both lunch and dinner on the same day. If you can’t find spicy chicken sausage, add a pinch of red-pepper flakes. Also, if using Swiss chard, chop up the stems and sauté them with the onions, carrots, and celery.

Steps

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces with the end of a large spoon. Transfer the sausage to a plate and set it aside.
2. Add the remaining olive oil to the pot and, over medium heat, sauté the onion, carrot, celery, Swiss chard ribs (if using), cumin, and thyme. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and just beginning to brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Return the sausage to the pot along with the water, rice, and lentils. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, for 30 to 45 minutes, until the rice and lentils are tender.
4. Add the tomato paste, stirring until dissolved, then add the chopped greens and cook until wilted. Season to taste with salt; if too thick, add more water.