Italian White Bean Kale Sausage (Printable)

Hearty Italian soup with white beans, spicy sausage, kale, and roasted garlic. A comforting, rustic meal ready in one hour.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb spicy Italian sausage, casings removed

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 6 cloves garlic, peeled
07 - 1 bunch Tuscan kale (about 6 oz), stems removed, leaves chopped

→ Beans

08 - 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 cup water

→ Herbs & Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Place garlic cloves on foil, drizzle with olive oil, wrap, and roast for 20 minutes until soft and golden. Cool, then mash into paste.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up with spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
03 - Add remaining olive oil to pot, then add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened, about 6 minutes.
04 - Stir in mashed roasted garlic, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add beans, cooked sausage, chicken broth, and water. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
06 - Stir in chopped kale and continue simmering for 10-12 minutes until kale is tender but vibrant.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with Parmesan cheese, olive oil drizzle, and crusty bread if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The roasted garlic mellows into this buttery, sweet undertone that makes people think you spent hours developing the flavors, when really the oven did all the work.
  • Its the perfect recipe for using up that bunch of kale hiding in your crisper drawer—it wilts down beautifully without any hint of bitterness.
02 -
  • After burning my mouth countless times from impatience, I learned this soup actually tastes better after it rests for 10-15 minutes off the heat—the flavors meld and the temperature becomes perfect for enjoying.
  • Adding a Parmesan rind while the soup simmers creates an umami depth that had my dinner guests convinced I had some secret ingredient.
03 -
  • Save the flavor-packed oil left in your sun-dried tomato jar and use a tablespoon to sauté your vegetables for an incredible depth of flavor that complements the Italian sausage perfectly.
  • For the creamiest possible texture, take about a cup of the beans and broth after simmering and blend them before returning to the pot—it creates a silky base while maintaining plenty of whole beans for texture.
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