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Savory Smoked Kielbasa and White Bean Soup with Kale

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A hearty and comforting soup featuring smoky kielbasa, creamy white beans, and fresh kale, perfect for cozy evenings and quick weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound smoked kielbasa, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
  • 4 cups fresh kale, roughly chopped, stems removed
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and drain the white beans. Chop the kale, removing tough stems. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic. Slice the smoked kielbasa into 1/4-inch rounds.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add garlic and cook for another minute, being careful not to burn it.
  3. Push the vegetables to the side of the pot and add the sliced kielbasa. Brown slightly on one side before stirring it in with the vegetables.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth, add the drained beans, bay leaves, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir and bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Stir in the chopped kale and cook for about 5 minutes until wilted but still vibrant green.
  7. Remove bay leaves, taste the soup, and season with salt and pepper as needed. Optionally, add a splash of apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice to brighten flavors.
  8. Serve warm immediately or let cool slightly to deepen flavors.

Notes

Do not overcook the kale to keep its texture and color vibrant. Rinse canned beans well to avoid a thick, starchy broth. Use good-quality smoked kielbasa for best flavor. You can substitute kale with spinach or Swiss chard. For a vegetarian version, swap kielbasa for smoked tofu or mushrooms and use vegetable broth. Adjust salt carefully as kielbasa and broth can be salty.

Nutrition

Keywords: smoked kielbasa soup, white bean soup, kale soup, hearty soup, comfort food, easy weeknight dinner, smoky soup

Find it online: https://islatable.com/savory-smoked-kielbasa-and-white-bean-soup-with-kale-easy-recipe-for-cozy-comfort/