Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Phase 1: Brown the Sausage
- Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once it’s shimmering hot, add the avocado oil.
- Add the sliced kielbasa turkey sausage rounds to the hot pot. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is beautifully browned and wonderfully crisped. Remove the sausage from the pot and set it aside, leaving any rendered fat behind.
Phase 2: Sauté the Aromatics
- To the same pot, add the diced yellow onion, celery, and carrot. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they begin to soften and become incredibly fragrant, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot as you go.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for just 1 more minute until it becomes aromatic. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Phase 3: Build the Flavor Base
- Return the browned sausage to the pot. Stir in the red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and the entire can of fire roasted tomatoes. Let these ingredients meld together for a minute, stirring constantly.
Phase 4: Simmer to Perfection
- Add the diced Yukon gold potatoes and the generous 64 oz of low sodium chicken broth. This is also the perfect moment to add your Parmesan rind for an extra layer of savory umami depth.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Let it cook for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are perfectly tender when easily pierced with a fork.
Phase 5: Wilt the Kale
- Once the potatoes are tender, stir in the fresh curly kale. Let it simmer for just a few more minutes until it has beautifully wilted and softened into the soup.
Phase 6: Creamy Finish & Seasoning
- Turn off the heat. Slowly stir in the room temperature half and half. Adding it off the heat helps prevent any curdling, ensuring a silky-smooth finish.
- Give the soup a taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Finally, finish with a bright squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve immediately, topped generously with fresh shredded Parmesan and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Nutrition
Notes
Achieve deep flavor by browning sausage well and sautéing aromatics. Stir in room temperature half and half off the heat to prevent curdling. This soup is freezer-friendly and ideal for meal prep, reheating gently on the stovetop. Serve with crusty bread. Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.