Spicy Sausage Kale Potato Soup to Warm Your Soul and Heal Your Body

This is possibly the best soup I’ve ever tasted.

It is the best kale recipe I’ve ever had.

Yes, it’s healthy, but oh so tasty! 

On these cold nights it’s one of the best soups you can have. Please give this one a try. You will love it!

Cooking Tip: Adding a bit of nutmeg to kale takes away the bitterness and makes it sweet. (Also don’t used the bitter ribs.)

Spicy Sausage, Kale, and Potato Soup (serves 6-8)

(simplified from The Candid Appetite)

• 1 pound spicy Italian chicken sausage
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 large bunches of kale, chopped, (throw out the stems) about 4 overflowing handfuls
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or powdered from a can)
• 4 medium or 2 large russet baking potatoes, diced into cubes
• 8 cups chicken broth or stock, 2 boxes
• 1/2 cup Half-n-Half (or whole cream) We used Half-n-Half and it was good.

You could used pork sausage instead of chicken, but if you haven’t tried chicken sausage you owe it to yourself to taste it. It’s wonderful, healthier, and you won’t know the difference!

1. Spray heavy-bottomed soup pot with cooking spray to make clean up easy.
2. Remove the sausage from the casing and brown it in a heavy-bottomed soup pot. Set aside.
3. In the same pot add the olive oil, onions, and garlic. Cook till clear on medium heat, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Continue to cook until they are caramelized.
5. Add the kale a bit at a time and cook till it wilts.
6. Add the nutmeg, stir, and cook for another 3 minutes until it is bright green.
7. Add the potatoes and cooked sausage.
8. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil.
9. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are soft.
10. Add to taste: black pepper, crushed hot pepper flakes, salt. (about 1 tsp. black pepper and 1/2 tsp. crushed hot pepper flakes is what we used) We didn’t add any salt as the sausage made it salty enough. We added a bit of milk to dilute the saltiness.
11. Stir in the Half-n-Half right before serving.

We had this soup with crusty rolls and butter, but we discovered another bread that was even better. The store was about to close so they put all their breads at half price. We tried one called “Soup Bread” that we had never heard of before. It was so soft, yeasty, and flavorful, almost like homemade bread.

This soup seemed to satisfy the soul and warm the cockles of our hearts!

As the cold nights continue, please treat yourself to this wonderful soup. You will feel totally nourished and comforted! Follow it up with a cup of tea with honey and a cookie to be totally pampered!