Lentil Soup, Curried or Plain

Curried lentil soup is a bit much for a whole meal, so it should be regarded as a first course. However, plain lentil soup makes a gorgeous meal, especially if served with a ring of cooked knockwurst slices floating around the edges. It was always served this way in the pigeonhole Bierstube where I often ate my lunches in Wiesbaden: lentil soup (Linzensuppe) on Monday and Thursday, oxtail (Ochsenschwanzensuppe) and split pea (Erbsensuppe) on other days, and omele