Tuscan White Bean Sausage Soup (Printable View)

Hearty Italian soup with sausage, beans, kale, and potatoes simmered in aromatic chicken broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed, mild or spicy

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 cups chopped kale, stems removed
07 - 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, diced
08 - 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, drained, optional

→ Beans

09 - 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Broth & Liquids

10 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Herbs & Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Finish

16 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
17 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate, retaining fat in the pot.
02 - Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Return sausage to the pot. Add potatoes, cannellini beans, diced tomatoes if using, chicken broth, oregano, basil, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine thoroughly.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
05 - Stir in kale and simmer uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes, until kale is wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls and serve hot, garnished with Parmesan cheese if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's ready in under an hour but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The creamy beans and tender kale make it feel substantial without being heavy.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, which honestly might be the best part of dinner.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of cooking garlic alone; it develops a sweetness that raw garlic will never have, and it changes the entire soup's flavor.
  • Add the kale at the very end—if it simmers too long, it becomes an unpleasant grayish color and loses its delicate texture.
03 -
  • Buy your sausage from someone who takes pride in making it—the difference between grocery store sausage and butcher's sausage is the difference between ordinary soup and soup that people remember.
  • If you find a Parmesan rind in your cheese drawer, drop it into the pot during simmering and fish it out before serving; it adds a subtle, impossible-to-define richness that guests will notice but won't be able to name.
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