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Hearty Italian Sausage and Kale Soup

Italian sausage and kale soup - featured image
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A quick and easy one-pot soup featuring savory Italian sausage, fresh kale, and cannellini beans, perfect for cozy meals on chilly days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (spicy or mild)
  • 6 cups chopped kale (about one bunch), stems removed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ingredients: Chop the onion, carrots, celery, and kale. Mince the garlic. Drain and rinse the cannellini beans. Slice or crumble the Italian sausage if it’s in casing.
  2. Brown the sausage: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until nicely browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  3. Sauté vegetables: In the same pot, add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Add herbs and seasonings: Stir in dried oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Let them toast briefly to release aroma, about 30 seconds.
  5. Add liquids and tomatoes: Pour in the chicken broth and crushed tomatoes (if using). Scrape the bottom of the pot to lift any browned bits. Bring to a gentle boil.
  6. Simmer: Return the cooked sausage to the pot. Reduce heat to low and let the soup simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
  7. Add kale and beans: Stir in chopped kale and cannellini beans. Continue simmering for another 10 minutes until kale is tender but still bright green, and beans are heated through.
  8. Adjust seasoning: Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. If the soup feels too thick, add a splash more broth or water.
  9. Serve: Ladle into bowls and enjoy warm, optionally with crusty bread on the side.

Notes

Brown the sausage well to develop flavor and avoid greasy soup. Add kale near the end to keep it tender and vibrant. Simmer gently to prevent kale from becoming mushy. Soup tastes better the next day as flavors meld. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian sausage soup, kale soup, hearty soup, easy soup recipe, cozy meals, one-pot soup, cannellini beans, comfort food

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