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Cozy White Bean Kale Soup with Italian Sausage

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A hearty and comforting soup featuring Italian sausage, creamy white beans, and tender kale, enriched with a Parmesan rind for deep umami flavor. Perfect for chilly evenings and quick weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces Italian sausage, casing removed (sweet or spicy)
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (or about 3 cups cooked from dry)
  • 6 cups chopped curly kale, stems removed (can substitute Tuscan kale or spinach)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 6 cups (1.4 liters) chicken broth, preferably low sodium
  • 1 piece Parmesan rind (about 2–3 inches)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Prepare your ingredients: Dice the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Chop the kale, removing tough stems. Drain and rinse the cannellini beans thoroughly. Set aside your Parmesan rind.
  2. Brown the Italian sausage: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in your soup pot. Add the sausage, breaking it up with your spoon, cooking for about 6–8 minutes until nicely browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  3. Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot with the sausage. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and onion turns translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the broth and Parmesan rind: Pour in the 6 cups of chicken broth, then gently drop in the Parmesan rind. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and let it simmer gently for 20 minutes.
  5. Incorporate beans and kale: Stir in the rinsed beans and chopped kale. Simmer for another 10–12 minutes until the kale is tender but still vibrant green.
  6. Season and finish: Remove the Parmesan rind with tongs or a slotted spoon. Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to taste. Stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice right before serving.

Notes

Brown the sausage well for caramelized flavor. Use Parmesan rind to add umami depth but remove before serving. Do not overcook kale to keep texture vibrant. Adjust seasoning gradually. If soup tastes flat, simmer uncovered a few extra minutes. Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium and starch. For vegetarian version, omit sausage and use vegetable broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: white bean soup, kale soup, Italian sausage soup, cozy soup, Parmesan rind, easy soup recipe, weeknight dinner, hearty soup

Find it online: https://recipebelle.com/cozy-white-bean-kale-soup-with-italian-sausage-easy-recipe/