Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 lb Ground Turkey Sausage (Sweet Italian style)
  • 1 large Yellow Onion, finely diced
  • 2 medium Carrots, peeled and finely diced
  • 2 Celery Stalks, finely diced
  • 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp Dried Italian Seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (or to taste)
  • 1 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour (Optional)
  • 1/2 cup Dry White Wine (Optional)
  • 6 cups Chicken or Turkey Stock (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 (15 oz) cans Cannellini Beans, rinsed and drained
  • 6 oz Fresh Kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
  • 1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
  • Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Cheese, for serving (Optional)

Instructions:

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add turkey sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through (about 6–8 minutes). Drain off any excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon behind.
  2. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften (about 7–10 minutes).
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. If using flour, sprinkle it over the vegetables and stir constantly for 1 minute.
  4. If using wine, pour it in and scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Let the wine reduce by half (about 2 minutes).
  5. Add the chicken/turkey stock and the undrained diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat immediately to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes to allow flavours to marry.
  6. Stir in the rinsed white beans. Increase heat slightly to return to a gentle simmer. Add the chopped kale in batches, stirring until it wilts down into the broth.
  7. Taste the soup. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in the fresh lemon juice right at the end to brighten the flavours.
  8. Ladle the hot Turkey Sausage Kale and White Bean Soup into bowls, offering grated cheese on the side if desired.