Sausage and Fennel Soup

Warm up with a hearty bowl of Sausage and Fennel Soup, a rustic, flavor-packed dish that’s perfect for cozy evenings. This easy-to-make recipe combines the bold, savory taste of Italian sausage with the subtle sweetness of fennel and the earthy goodness of fresh kale. Simmered with fire-roasted tomatoes, fragrant thyme, and a touch of crushed red pepper flakes, this soup features layers of comforting flavors in every spoonful. A diced russet potato adds heartiness, while a garnish of grated Parmesan and feathery fennel fronds completes the dish with a touch of elegance. Ready in under an hour, this one-pot wonder is ideal as a weeknight dinner or a make-ahead meal that only gets better with time. Serve with crusty bread for soaking up every last drop of this soul-satisfying soup.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casing removed)
• 1 medium fennel bulb
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 3 large garlic cloves
• 0.5 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 14-ounce can canned diced tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred)
• 1 medium russet potato (peeled and diced)
• 4 cups kale (stems removed, leaves chopped)
• 0.5 cups parmesan cheese (grated, for garnish)
• 0 to taste salt
• 0 to taste black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the sausage to the pot and cook, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 6–8 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Step 3

Thinly slice the fennel bulb (reserving the fronds for garnish) and finely chop the onion. Mince the garlic.

Step 4

Add the fennel and onion to the pot, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in the garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and thyme, and cook for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 6

Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and the diced tomatoes (with their juices). Bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 7

Add the diced potato to the pot and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the potato is tender, about 15 minutes.

Step 8

Return the cooked sausage to the pot and stir in the chopped kale. Simmer for an additional 5–7 minutes until the kale is tender.

Step 9

Season the soup with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 10

Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and reserved fennel fronds. Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3289.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2720.0

Total Fat 182.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 68.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.0g
Cholesterol 412.8mg	0%
Sodium 13806.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 137.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.8g	0%
Total Sugars 35.1g
Protein 147.5g	0%

Vitamin D 47.6IU	0%
Calcium 2134.3mg	0%
Iron 16.2mg	0%
Potassium 5399.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.1%

Protein: 21.2%

Carbs: 19.8%