Kale and sweet sausage soup

[becca]

Posting for YKW and anyone else who might enjoy it. 

I did not use a recipe, but pulled this off the internet and edited it to approximate what I did as best I can. 

Ingredients:

1 package turkey sausage meat
large onion diced
2 tsp olive oil
3-4 garlic, minced
small bunch kale - rinsed, leaves removed from the ribs & rough chopped
1 lg can Cannellini or Northern beans - drained and rinsed
8 cups chicken stock
1 can small diced tomatoes
about a T of Italian blend seasoning(I use McCormick)
few dashes ground cayenne pepper
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Saute turkey and onions in some olive oil until all is well cooked, onion is soft.  Drain, if there seems to be a lot of fat.  You can keep some in there, as fat equals flavor!  Add the garlic(i actually used a press and used quite a bit, maybe 6 cloves or so).  Sweat the garlic in the mixture a bit and add the can of tomatoes and Italian seasoning, and cook a bit, and add the stock.  Simmer for about 20 minutes while you rinse and chop the kale.  Add the Kale and simmer until it is tender to your liking.  It can take a bit, as Kale can be chewy.  Maybe 30 minutes or more. Add the drained and rinsed beans.  Heat through. 

Cook until the kale is as you like it, and adjust any seasoning as needed. 

Enjoy!

[GoingNuts]

That looks delicious!  Do you get the sausage meat ground up out of casing, or cut up sausages in to pieces?

[twinturbo]

I'll have to try a version with beans which I almost typed as brains.

[hezzier]

TT- I know you meant without beans.  I was thinking that same thing, just add in some other veggies.

[YouKnowWho]

Thank you!  I will make sans beans next week.

I should thank you in advance because my kids love any meal that incorporates sausage and kale.  I have weird kids, I know.

[becca]

That looks delicious!  Do you get the sausage meat ground up out of casing, or cut up sausages in to pieces?

I squeeze it out and crumble it as I brown it.  If I can find it out of casings, I would get that.  You can use pork sausage.  last night, I made a double batch.  Had a lot fo kale, lol.  so I used 2 pkgs of sausage, one pork, one turkey.  browned it with the onions and did drain off fat.  I saved some of the meat for pizza I will make today, for dh.  Kids will not have it on theirs.  So, maybe 6 links into the soup, 2 set aside for pizza today. 

[becca]

I made it without beans last night, and added carrots and celery.

I used beans for the time I had it for guests.  Figured they migh tneed more substance in there.  I was thinking potatoes would work in it too, but I do lower carb and prefer no beans or potatoes.  or just a few beans.  Sometimes I feel like I need something a bit more hearty. 

I have done s imilar soup with cabbage instead of kale, and zucchini, green beans, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, italian seasoning.  Clean the fridge soup.  But I start with the sausage and a can of tomatoes as a base. 

The sausage, onion and stock make a good base for anything that goes well with those flavors.  You could also use a spicy sausage or add red pepper. 

[hezzier]

You are making me hungry for this soup and I have none of the ingredients.

[becca]

And here is my lunch:  It looked prettier when fresh.  The greens were much greener. 

[CMdeux]

I'll have to try a version with beans which I almost typed as brains.

Mac and I both use one of those.

My "recipe" for Kale Soup (which we had for dinner last night)

1 tbs olive oil
garlic-- as much as you like, minced or chopped-- saute in olive oil
2 cans low-sodium white beans-- yes, just dump 'em in
about 8 c of chicken stock (or whatever else you like as cooking liquid)
about 8 cups of coarsely chopped kale
potatoes-- I just dump in about 2 c of instant potatoes but one can also put in ~3c coarsely chopped potatoes into the boiling stock with the kale.

Simmer 15 minutes, add pepper to taste.  That's it.

[becca]

That sounds delish!  And is close to the Portuguese version without the chorizo.    I guess they would use the chorizo in place of beans for protein.

[becca]

bump