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Hearty One-Pot White Bean and Kale Soup with Italian Sausage

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A comforting and hearty one-pot soup featuring tender white beans, slightly crisp kale, and savory Italian sausage simmered in a flavorful broth. Perfect for cozy dinners and quick weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) cannellini or great northern white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 6 cups chopped fresh kale, stems removed (about 150 grams)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 6 cups chicken broth (1.4 liters), homemade or low-sodium store-bought
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Ingredients (10 minutes): Rinse and chop the kale, dice the onion, carrots, and celery, mince the garlic, and drain and rinse the canned white beans.
  2. Brown the Italian Sausage (8 minutes): Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in the stockpot over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it apart with your spoon or spatula. Cook until browned and slightly crisp around the edges, about 6-8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
  3. Sauté the Vegetables (6 minutes): Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until softened and translucent, about 5-6 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add Herbs and Broth (2 minutes): Stir in the dried thyme, bay leaf, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Pour in 6 cups (1.4 liters) of chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
  5. Simmer the Soup (20 minutes): Add the browned sausage back into the pot along with the drained white beans. Let everything simmer gently for about 20 minutes to marry the flavors. Keep the heat low to avoid boiling, which can toughen the kale later.
  6. Add the Kale (5 minutes): Stir in the chopped kale and cook for another 5 minutes or until the kale is tender but still slightly crisp. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
  7. Final Touches and Serve: Remove the bay leaf before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy immediately, or let it cool slightly to let the flavors settle.

Notes

For thicker broth, mash a few beans against the pot’s side during the last simmer. Add a splash of lemon juice before serving to brighten flavors. Rinse canned beans to remove canned flavor and keep broth clean. Add kale at the end to keep texture tender but not mushy. Use low-sodium broth to control saltiness. Brown sausage thoroughly for crispy edges and depth of flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: white bean soup, kale soup, Italian sausage soup, one-pot meal, hearty soup, cozy dinner, easy weeknight recipe

Find it online: https://morselora.com/hearty-one-pot-white-bean-and-kale-soup-with-italian-sausage-easy-recipe-for-cozy-dinners/