Ingredients

The following ingredients have 8 Servings
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 3 sweet Italian sausages, casings removed ((about .65 pounds))
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 pound waxy potatoes, cubed into bite sized pieces
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons minced thyme leaves
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 3 cups torn and packed kale leaves with ribs removed ((about 2 large leaves))
  • 2 ounces shaved Parmesan
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instruction

  • Pour oil into a Dutch oven set over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp. Using a slotted spoon drain bacon onto paper towels and set aside.
  • Add the sausage to the bacon grease and cook, breaking up into bite sized pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned.
  • Transfer sausage to a bowl using a slotted spoon.
  • Remove all but 3 tablespoons drippings to dutch oven and place back over medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrot. Sauté vegetables for about 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add potatoes, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes and thyme. Sauté until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour is evenly distributed and begins to brown on the bottom of the pot, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Stir stock into pot, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally until the potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Stir milk, kale and sausage to the pot until evenly distributed. Cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the kale is softened and the soup is heated through about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as needed and stir.
  • Serve immediately in bowls garnished with shaved parmesan, crumbled bacon and crushed red pepper flakes.