This hearty kale soup with sausage and sweet potato is a comforting dish perfect for chilly days. The combination of savory sausages, nutrient-rich kale, and sweet, tender sweet potatoes creates a balanced and flavorful meal that is both satisfying and nutritious.
While most of the ingredients for this recipe are commonly found in your pantry, you might need to pick up a fresh bunch of kale and sweet potatoes from the supermarket. Make sure to choose firm and vibrant kale leaves, and look for sweet potatoes that are free from blemishes and soft spots.
Ingredients For Kale Soup With Sausage And Sweet Potato
Olive oil: Used for sautéing the ingredients and adding a rich flavor.
Sausages: Adds a savory and meaty element to the soup.
Onion: Provides a sweet and aromatic base for the soup.
Garlic: Enhances the flavor with its pungent and aromatic qualities.
Sweet potato: Adds a natural sweetness and hearty texture to the soup.
Chicken broth: Forms the flavorful liquid base of the soup.
Kale: Adds a nutritious and slightly bitter green element to the soup.
Salt: Used to season the soup to taste.
Pepper: Adds a bit of heat and enhances the overall flavor.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When browning the sausages, make sure to let them develop a deep, golden color before adding the onion and garlic. This caramelization adds a rich, savory depth to the soup. Additionally, when adding the kale, remove the tough stems and chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly and blend seamlessly into the broth.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a similar smoke point and neutral flavor, making it a good alternative for sautéing.
sausages - Substitute with chorizo: Chorizo adds a spicy kick and depth of flavor to the soup, similar to sausages.
onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots provide a milder and slightly sweeter flavor, which can complement the other ingredients well.
garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: If fresh garlic is unavailable, garlic powder can be used to impart a similar flavor.
sweet potato - Substitute with butternut squash: Butternut squash has a similar texture and sweetness, making it a good replacement for sweet potatoes.
chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth can be used for a vegetarian option while still providing a rich flavor.
kale - Substitute with spinach: Spinach has a similar texture and nutritional profile, though it will cook down more than kale.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a savory depth of flavor and saltiness to the soup.
pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper can add a bit of heat and spice to the soup, enhancing its overall flavor.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Soup
How To Store / Freeze This Soup
Allow the kale soup to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can lead to a watery texture and spoilage.
Transfer the cooled soup into airtight containers. For portion control and convenience, consider using individual serving-sized containers.
Label each container with the date of preparation. This ensures you keep track of freshness and consume the soup within a safe timeframe.
Store the containers in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the soup within 3-4 days. The sausage and sweet potato flavors will meld beautifully over this period.
For longer storage, place the airtight containers in the freezer. The kale soup can be frozen for up to 2-3 months without significant loss of flavor or texture.
When ready to enjoy, thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the integrity of the kale and sweet potato.
Reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also use a microwave, heating in 1-2 minute intervals and stirring in between to ensure even heating.
If the soup appears too thick after reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed before serving. The flavors may mellow during storage, so a little extra seasoning can revive the dish.
How To Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method: Pour the kale soup into a pot and heat over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Once the soup is steaming and hot, it's ready to serve. This method helps maintain the texture of the sweet potato and the kale.
Microwave Method: Transfer the desired amount of soup into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plate to prevent splatters. Heat on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Continue heating in 1-minute increments until the soup is hot throughout. This is a quick and convenient method, especially for single servings.
Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour the leftover soup into an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil. Heat for about 20-30 minutes, or until the soup is hot. This method is great if you're reheating a large batch and want to avoid the microwave.
Slow Cooker Method: If you have time, pour the kale soup into a slow cooker and set it on low. Heat for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. This method is perfect for maintaining the flavors and ensuring the soup is evenly heated without rushing the process.
Double Boiler Method: Place the soup in a heatproof bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the soup is heated through. This gentle method helps prevent overcooking the vegetables and sausage.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Large pot: A large pot is essential for cooking the soup, allowing enough space for all the ingredients to simmer together.
Wooden spoon: A wooden spoon is useful for stirring the ingredients without scratching the pot.
Chef's knife: A chef's knife is needed for chopping the onion, mincing the garlic, and slicing the sausages.
Cutting board: A cutting board provides a safe surface for chopping and slicing the ingredients.
Measuring spoons: Measuring spoons are used to measure the olive oil accurately.
Peeler: A peeler is necessary for peeling the sweet potato.
Ladle: A ladle is perfect for serving the hot soup into bowls.
Tongs: Tongs can be handy for handling the sausages while they brown in the pot.
Bowl: A bowl can be used to hold the chopped kale until it is ready to be added to the soup.
How to Save Time on Making This Soup
Prep ingredients ahead: Chop the onion, garlic, and sweet potato in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge.
Use pre-cooked sausage: Opt for pre-cooked sausages to cut down on cooking time.
Instant broth: Use instant chicken broth or broth concentrate to save time on making broth from scratch.
Pre-washed kale: Buy pre-washed and chopped kale to skip the washing and chopping steps.
One-pot cooking: Use a large pot to cook everything together, reducing the number of dishes to clean.
Kale Soup With Sausage And Sweet Potato
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 4 Sausages, sliced
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 4 cups Chicken broth
- 1 bunch Kale, chopped
- to taste Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add sliced sausages and cook until browned.
- Add chopped onion and minced garlic, cook until softened.
- Add diced sweet potato and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer until sweet potato is tender, about 15 minutes.
- Add chopped kale and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Soup
I suggest you try these favourites too!
- Chickpea Patties Recipe25 Minutes
- Cauliflower Patties Recipe35 Minutes
- Carrot Lentil Patties Recipe35 Minutes
- Lentil Coconut Soup Recipe40 Minutes
- Leek Soup Recipe45 Minutes
- Turmeric Vegetable Soup Recipe45 Minutes
- Ginger Squash Soup with Toast45 Minutes
- Onion Soup Recipe1 Hours
- Fall Soups Recipe45 Minutes
- Ethiopian Red Lentil Soup Recipe50 Minutes
- Curried Sweet Potato Lentil Soup Recipe45 Minutes
- Carrot Lentil Soup Recipe45 Minutes
Leave a Reply