Hearty Sausage, Kale & Cannellini Bean Soup Recipe

There’s something about a meal that warms both body and soul: it’s always a pleasure to eat soup. And when the Sausage, Kale & Cannellini Bean Soup is stewed up—good wholesome ingredients all gathered in one pot—a creamy but not too rich result normally arises. Savory sausage with earthy kale, creamy cannellini beans and the extra tasty knobs of butter it was served with took that description closer to an understatement! It was simply heavenly; everyone who tasted it sang its praises for days on end. This recipe will warm your heart and heat you from head to toe throughout what might well be a chilly winter season.

Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight meal or trying to impress all your friends on the weekend, this hearty soup recipe will give both you and them the first and last say in matters of food. It's jam-packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, but simple as anything. Forget spending hours sweating over a hot stove; this simple sausage soup is straightforward, adaptable, and tastes like it's been simmering away all day long. So here is a recipe that will soon become a pillar of your kitchen.

(Why You'll Love) This Sausage, Kale & Bean Soup

As we start this soup, let's talk about what makes it special. It is not just an assortment of ingredients; it is a complete meal in itself.

• Hearty and Satisfying: The regional flavor of Italian sausage combined with the meatiness and fullness of cannellini beans give this meal a substantial dose of protein and fiber. You won't be feeling hungry at night.
• Loaded with Nutrients: Kale contains vitamins A, K and C in large quantities. It also contains antioxidants. Beans add protein and fiber to this recipe which makes it a complete meal with a good mix of healthy foods.
• Fabulously Tasty: The magic begins when sausage has browned a bit and its savory fats released. This forms the taste base. Top it with sweet/smoky notes of garlic, onions, and various seasonings. Richly layered, this soup’s flavorful broth is complex and delicious.
• Easy to make: The gourmet taste of this sausage kale soup makes cooking a dish as simple as enjoying one. Just a few steps, and precious few minutes in the kitchen are all you need; whether you're a novice cook or seasoned chef searching for a quick and reliable meal.

The Simple Sausage and Kale Soup Ingredients

Unlike most recipes, this soup will not turn your kitchen into a disaster area. There are no complicated steps and once you have the ingredients in soup pot the active cooking time is really quite short! It’s a perfect choice for novice cooks too, as well as experienced chefs wanting to enjoy good food without spending hours working.

• Italian Sausage (1 lb): You can find both hot or mild Italian sausage, though hot will give a little kick of spice that blends nicely with the other herbs and spices present. It's easier to buy bulk sausage meat, although links taken out of their casings work just as well.
• Olive Oil (1 tbsp): Take "Olive Oil" and start to sauté the vegetables in this a sauté pan.
• Yellow Onion (1 large in size): Dice the onion. It will serve as a sweet aromatic base of your soup.
• Carrots (2 medium carrots): Peel and slice or dice them. They add a bit of sweetness and color to this kale and bean dish.
• Celery (2 stalks of celery): Dice. The celery gives a nice, subtle savory note that rounds out the vegetable base.
• Garlic (4-5 cloves of garlic) minced: Don't let the garlic fool you; it is a fundamental part of making flavorful broth.
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth (6 cups): I suggest using a low-sodium broth, so that the final dish is not overly salty.
• Cannellini Beans (2 15-oz cans): Rinsed and drained. These white kidney beans have a mild, nutty taste with a creamy texture that makes them one of the most desirable beans for soups of all kinds.
• Kale (1 large bunch): Remove the stems and roughly chop the leaves. Lacinato kale (also known as Tuscan or dinosaur kale) is a great choice for this purpose as it holds its texture very well in soup.
• Dried Oregano (1 tsp): Provides a traditional Italian flavor.
• Red Pepper Flakes (1/4 tsp, optional): This adds a little more warmth. You can adjust to your spice preferences.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
• Parmesan Cheese (for serving): Freshly grated Parmesan provides a salty and nutty finish which elevates this dish to the status of extraordinary.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Making Your Hearty Soup

So are you ready to cook? Follow these simple steps and make a delicious and comforting meal.

Step 1: Brown the Sausage

Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it is browned through-5 to 7 minutes. Once done, take the sausage out with a slotted spoon and put onto a plate. Leave the fat in the pot, this flavored liquid is full of taste. The fat will be used for cooking the vegetables.

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

Lower the heat to medium. Add the sliced onion, carrots and celery to the pot. Stir the vegetables around in the sausage fat for about 6-8 minutes until they are softened. Occasionally stir vegetables so they do not burn. If the pan is dry, add a tablespoon of olive oil.

Now add the minced garlic and sauté for a further minute until it is fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn as this would give your dish a bitter taste.

Step 3: Build the Broth

Sprinkle over the vegetables the dried oregano and if using, red pepper flakes. Pour in the chicken or what ever broth, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pot with your spoon. These little bits are flavour gold.

Bring the broth to a simmer.

Step 4: Simmer the Whole Mixture

After the broth boils, drop the cooked sausage back in. Add in the rinsed and drained cannellini beans.

Let the soup simmer away gently for 15 minutes at least. This allows the flavours to meld together.

Adjusting the flavor skill This step is important to make sure that the taste comes out pure and delicious.

Step 5: Add the Kale

Stir the chopped kale into the broth. It may seem like a lot but you will need to add it in batches.

Whand then the hey there were friends were it will with wear off content, kale loud soon become a muted green color flop over on itself. Ccontinued to cook the for 5-10 min more or until kale turns tender yet still has its bright color.

Step 6: Serve and Season

At the end, give the soup a taste-test. If necessary, correct seasoning with salt and black pepper. Note that the sausage and broth have salt in them already so it is best to check before adding more.

Pour piping hot soup into bowls. For a perfect final touch, sprinkle each serving with a generous amount of fresh Parmesan cheese and drizzle on good olive oil.

Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions for Cooking

This soup is really quite easy to make. Here’s a few ways you can make it just the way you like or modify according to what ingredients you’re keen on:

• Variations on the Italian Sausage: Apart from Italian sausage, which you can also leave out from the recipe for vegetarianism and just start by sautéing mixed vegetables in olive oil, you can also use chicken or turkey as a leaner substitute; more spicy? Try chorizo. If you put vegetarian sausage in that has been crushed or you use extra beans, then there will be other kinds of beans available to eat too.
• Beans: The Bean source for this recipe is cannellini beans. However, Great Northern beans also work and even chickpeas will suffice.
• Greens and Herbs: If you're not a fan of kale, feel free to stuff in spinach or swiss chard. When using spinach, drop it in at the very end of cooking, as it wilts virtually on contact.
• Make it Creamy: To make a richer, creamier soup, consider stirring in a small bag of heavy cream or half and half for the last few minutes of cooking. Another trick is to puree one cup of the beans with some broth before adding them to the pot; this will naturally thicken the soup.
• Add Some Grains: To make the soup even more substantial, add some small pasta (like ditalini) or a grain like farro. Put it in at the end, along with broth and simmer until the grains are tender. You may need to add a little more broth because grains absorb water.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

This soup fills the bill all by itself, but it gets along nicely with a few simple accompaniments. Serve it with a crusty loaf of bread for dipping into that tremendous broth. A simple salad on the side with a vinaigrette dressing and you have crisp fresh contrast.

Storing Leftovers: This soup is great as leftovers and sometimes its flavors improve over time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.

Freezing Instructions: This simple sausage soup freezes great and tastes just as good when defrosted. Let cool completely before storing it in freezer-safe zip bags or containers. It will stay fresh for up to three months in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on your stovetop. Though the texture of the kale may be slightly softer after being frozen, it is still just as delicious tasting.

A Bowl of Comfort

On a rainy, dreary evening in the late autumn of the week that John. T. Cookson died, I first made this soup. It was the type of day that made me want to sit on the settee with a rug and a good book. I wanted something like a hug in a bowl, and so in the corner of that day's newspaper I found this recipe. Instantly comforting was the smell that filled my kitchen and makes me feel warm-hearted.

Minutes later, as the pot was being passed around for people to help themselves, everyone fell silent and the only noises heard were the spoons clinking against bowls. They all made a second helping. Since then, Sausage, Kale & Cannellini Bean Soup--the ultimate meal for knitting knots of people around a communal table and shooing away that little poke of wet, clingy feeling winter brings--has been our comfort food, either as one dish or served with whatever is in season and hot from the stove. 'The soup is not only one of my family's favorite comfort food ideas,' Ms. Gross says. 'No, it is warm lovingly made, something deeply satisfying and full of memories.' May it bring your own table these pleasures too.

• Why You'll Love This Sausage, Kale & Bean Soup
• The Simple Sausage and Kale Soup Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions: Making Your Hearty Soup
• Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions for Cooking
• Serving and Storage Suggestions
• A Bowl of Comfort