Recipes

[ciao_bella]

With the cooler, fall-like weather starting up in many areas of the country, I thought I would share a delicious soup/stew with you.  It makes about 6 hearty servings or 8 regular servings and freezes well. 

TUSCAN ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND KALE SOUP/STEW (CROCKPOT)

Makes 6-8 servings

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

5 Italian sausage links, cut into 1/2 inch sliced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped carrots

2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seed

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

4 cups chopped kale leaves

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a large frying pan, add sausage and cook turning often to brown on all sides.  Add garlic, onion, celery and carrots and cook until lightly brown.

Place sausage mixture, beans, basil, oregano, fennel and chicken stock in slow cooker; stir to combine.  Cook for about 2 ½ hours on high or 5 hours on low.

Wash kale in water and put into a salad spinner to remove water.  Add to soup and stir gently to combine.  Continue cooking for 45 minutes on high or 1½ hours on low.  Add diced tomatoes after kale has cooked.  Serve hot with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.  Serve with some crusty Italian bread and your meal is complete. 

* If you prefer a little more soup-like, simply add a little more broth when cooking.  This soup freezes well and can be reheated in the microwave or stove

[wagirl]

That is a thing of beauty!!! I LOVE soups like that and they only get better the next day. I save my parm rinds for this kind of soup!!

[ciao_bella]

@wagirl  Excellent suggestion!  I should have added that to my recipe as I also save cheese rinds for that exact purpose.  

[Enufstuff]

@ciao_bella   That soup looks delicious. I love making soups

                     in the Fall and Winter.

[QVCkitty1]

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@ciao_bella wrote:

With the cooler, fall-like weather starting up in many areas of the country, I thought I would share a delicious soup/stew with you.  It makes about 6 hearty servings or 8 regular servings and freezes well. 

TUSCAN ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND KALE SOUP/STEW (CROCKPOT)

Makes 6-8 servings

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

5 Italian sausage links, cut into 1/2 inch sliced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped carrots

2 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seed

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

4 cups chopped kale leaves

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a large frying pan, add sausage and cook turning often to brown on all sides.  Add garlic, onion, celery and carrots and cook until lightly brown.

Place sausage mixture, beans, basil, oregano, fennel and chicken stock in slow cooker; stir to combine.  Cook for about 2 ½ hours on high or 5 hours on low.

Wash kale in water and put into a salad spinner to remove water.  Add to soup and stir gently to combine.  Continue cooking for 45 minutes on high or 1½ hours on low.  Add diced tomatoes after kale has cooked.  Serve hot with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.  Serve with some crusty Italian bread and your meal is complete. 

* If you prefer a little more soup-like, simply add a little more broth when cooking.  This soup freezes well and can be reheated in the microwave or stove

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That soup looks delicious !

[Happy2BHere]

Thanks so much for posting  - I am so going to make this recipe! Yum!

[SportyShorty07]

@ciao_bella  Thanks a billion for sharing this recipe! This soup looks absolutely delicious and nutritious! I'm going to cook it this Fall. 

[LavernLuvsShoes]

Definitely gonna try this, as soon as the weather turns cooler.

@ciao_bella - Thanks for posting the recipe! ♥ 

[riley1]

This recipe looks delish. If it every cools down here in SC I might be able to make it. However, I will mention I'm not a kale person so I substitute escarole in place of.

Thanks! riley1