Italian Sausage Kale Soup (Printable Version)

Italian sausage, kale, and vegetables simmered in a rustic Mediterranean-style broth for a cozy main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 14 oz Italian sausage, casings removed

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 5 oz fresh kale, stems removed, leaves chopped
07 - 14 oz canned diced tomatoes, with juice

→ Pantry & Broth

08 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Finishing

14 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 to 6 minutes.
02 - Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant, about 1 minute.
04 - Add canned diced tomatoes with their juice, chicken broth, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil.
05 - Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to develop.
06 - Stir in the chopped kale and cook until wilted and tender, about 5 minutes.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Uses simple supermarket ingredients you probably have on hand
  • Ready in just under an hour with only one pot to clean
  • Packed with greens and protein for a satisfying dinner
  • Customizable to accommodate gluten-free or lighter diets
02 -
  • High in fiber, vitamins, and protein from kale, sausage, and vegetables
  • Easy to adapt for gluten-free diets by selecting safe sausage and broth
  • Freezes and reheats beautifully for meal prep or leftovers
03 -
  • Brown the sausage thoroughly to develop deep caramelized flavor on the bottom of the pan. Scraping up the brown bits when adding broth infuses even more flavor.
  • If you have a Parmesan rind, toss it in to simmer for added richness. Use fresh kale and grate your own cheese if you can as these little touches take the whole soup up a notch.
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