Rinsed Cannellini Beans (© Photo by: Luminouslens | Agency: Dreamstime.com)

I first encountered handcrafted kielbasa in the 1980s while working in New York City’s largest Polish-American neighborhood, said to be the world’s largest Polish community outside of Warsaw. The aroma on the neighborhood’s shopping street made it clear when local butchers were smoking a fresh batch. I’ve had a weakness for those unique sausages ever since.

Our friend, James Beard Award-winning author Linda West Eckhardt, just provided us with a wonderful way to enjoy the singular flavor of the classic Polish sausage in a healthy, seasonal soup, sure to warm on a winter day. Here’s how she describes it, “Just the sort of soup Polish Grandmothers kept on the back burner for cold and hungry children, this is a recipe that tastes good the first day, and even better on the days after!”

Linda’s Cannellini Soup with Kielbasa & Kale

Ingredients for 6-8 Servings

• 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 12 Ounces cooked beef kielbasa, cut into coins
• 1 Large onion, finely chopped
• 1 Fennel bulb, finely chopped (reserve and chop feathery tops for garnish)
• 6 Large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Teaspoon minced fresh thyme
• ½ Teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
• 2 Boxes chicken broth (about 10 cups)
• 1 Package (12 ounces) fresh chopped kale
• 1 15-Ounce can cannellini beans, drained (Goya)
• 1 15-Ounce box chopped Italian tomatoes (Pomi)
• 1 Cup grated Asiago or Parmigiano
• Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Preparation

Heat oil in a soup pot over medium heat and add ingredients in order, up to the broth, taking your time as you chop, so that the vegetables cook down. Then add broth and bring to a boil. Stir in kale, cannellini and tomatoes and simmer until kale wilts. Taste and adjust seasonings with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Linda West Eckhardt

To learn more about Linda's most recent work on healthy weight loss, go to: The Silver Cloud Diet

To get a look at a book of Linda’s quick and easy recipes for a low carb diet, go to: The High-Protein Cookbook: More than 150 healthy and irresistibly good low-carb dishes that can be on the table in thirty minutes or less

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