The key ingredient in this recipe is fresh ground Italian Sausages! The sausages I buy from our local butcher, I like to call them HEALTHY sausages, meaning no preservatives, no MSG, no fillers, no nitrates. Just pure goodness and flavourful.
We're featuring kale and zucchini, however, you can add your favorite veggies or substitute with your favorite veggies. The end product will be delicious. Trust me!
TIP: I like to use a combination of Hot Italian Sausages and Mild Italian Sausages. It produces the perfect heat for my palate (and my family). You can adjust the heat easily by adding hot pepper flakes as well.
The longer you let the soup simmer, the more the flavours "gel". Feel free to simmer longer than 30 minutes. I like to simmer an hour or 2.
Serve hot and top off the soup with a little fresh grated parmesan cheese. Mmmmmph! Enjoy the recipe below. Feel free to print or save.
Cook Well! Eat Well!
PREP TIME 15 mins
COOK TIME 60 mins
SERVES 6
Ingredients:
1 lb. Hot Italian Sausages
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 red peppers, diced
2 zucchinis, diced
1 bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
8 cups chicken broth
1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed
1 1/2 cups chopped kale
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 cups pasta (e.g. elbows, shells), cooked to package instructions
Salt and black pepper to taste
Let’s cook:
Remove the sausages from their casings
In a large pan on medium heat, brown the sausages while breaking down into bite size pieces and until cooked through
Drain grease from the pan and move the cooked meat to a plate with paper towels
In a large pot over medium heat add the olive oil
Add onion, stir and sauté for 2 – 3 minutes until soft
Add garlic, red peppers and zucchini, stir and sauté for 2 – 3 minutes
Add bay leaf and red pepper flakes
Add broth, tomatoes with juices, kale, basil and sausage
Bring to a boil and reduce temperature to low, simmer for 30 minutes
Add pasta, stir
Add salt and pepper to taste