Kale & White Bean Soup

This soup is like a summer garden in a bowl! Fresh Kale brings the taste of sunny days. At the same time, aromatic veggies like turnips, garlic, onions, and bell peppers join forces with cannellini beans and lean chicken sausage meatballs to create a flavor-packed, vitamin-rich delight. It's a fantastic way to enjoy your veggies without overloading on fat.

Servings: 4   Prep  Time: 15  Cook Time: 15 Let's dive into the delicious world of Kale & White Bean Soup. 🍲  Ingredients ·        6 links Chicken Sausage (casing removed and made into meatballs) ·        ½ each Bell Peppers – Red, Yellow, Orange (diced) ·        4 Garlic Cloves, minced ·        1 large Turnip, diced ·        1 32 oz. Chicken Broth – low sodium and fat-free ·        1 14.5 oz. Cannellini Beans (rinsed and drained) ·        1 bunch of Kale ( about 1 pound – stems removed and chopped) ·        1 medium Onion – diced ·        Olive oil for sautéing ·        Salt and pepper ·        chopped scallions for garnish ·        Shredded parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

 

Steps     

1.  Make the sausage meatballs – take one sausage link and twist to squeeze the sausage meat out of the casing and mold 1” meatballs with your hands.  Each link should yield about 5 – 6 meatballs.  Place on a plate until ready to cook.   

2.  In a medium skillet over medium heat, add one teaspoon of olive oil and add the meatballs.  Sear on all sides (this should take about 3 minutes). Then remove and set aside.   

3.  In a large soup pot, over medium heat, add a little olive oil, then add onions and garlic. Sauté until onions and garlic are tender.  

4.  Add chicken broth and 1 cup of water to sauté onions and garlic. Then bell peppers, diced turnips, cannellini beans, and Kale.  Season with salt and pepper to taste, reduce heat, and let simmer for about 5 - 8 minutes.   

5.  Add sausage meatballs and let simmer another 2 – 3 minutes.  Serve soup – garnish with fresh chopped scallions and shredded cheese if desired.    

Enjoy your culinary adventure with this vibrant, healthy soup! 🌿🍲   

Café Pantry Tip

Vegetarian Substitutions for the Kale & White Bean Soup 🍲   

Instead of chicken sausage meatballs, you can use:

• Vegetarian sausage: There are many delicious vegetarian sausage options available that can be used to make meatballs.

• Tofu: Firm tofu can be diced and sautéed to add a protein-rich element to the soup.   

• Tempeh: Crumbled tempeh can be used as a hearty and nutritious substitute.

For the chicken broth, you can use:

• Vegetable broth: A flavorful vegetable broth will keep the soup light and tasty.

These substitutions will keep the soup just as delightful and nutritious while making it vegetarian-friendly. 🌿🍲