Italian White Bean Soup Kale Sausage (Printable)

Hearty soup with spicy Italian sausage, creamy cannellini beans, Tuscan kale, and roasted garlic for a comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb spicy Italian sausage, casings removed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 6 cloves garlic, peeled
07 - 1 bunch Tuscan kale (about 6 oz), stems removed, leaves chopped

→ Beans

08 - 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 cup water

→ Herbs & Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

15 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
16 - Extra virgin olive oil
17 - Crusty bread for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Place garlic cloves on foil, drizzle with olive oil, wrap, and roast for 20 minutes until soft and golden. Cool and mash into paste.
02 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook for 6-8 minutes until browned through. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
03 - Add remaining olive oil to pot, then add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 6 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in roasted garlic paste, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add beans, cooked sausage, chicken broth, and water. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
06 - Stir in chopped kale and simmer for 10-12 minutes until tender but vibrant.
07 - Taste soup and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
08 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese, olive oil drizzle, and crusty bread.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted garlic adds this incredible sweet depth that store-bought soups never quite capture - trust me, its worth those extra twenty minutes.
  • The balance between the spicy sausage, creamy beans, and earthy kale somehow makes every spoonful feel like a warm hug from an Italian nonna.
02 -
  • The soup tastes significantly better the next day, so consider making it ahead if serving for guests - the flavors meld together overnight in the most extraordinary way.
  • Never boil the soup vigorously after adding the beans or theyll break apart and turn mushy instead of maintaining that perfect creamy-but-intact texture.
03 -
  • Save Parmesan rinds in your freezer specifically for soups like this - they add an incredible umami depth that cant be replicated any other way.
  • For a creamier texture without adding dairy, puree one cup of the beans with a little broth before adding them to the pot - this natural thickener gives the soup body without changing the flavor profile.
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