Smoked Sausage Sweet Potato Soup

Smoky Sausage and Sweet Potato Soup

This hearty soup is packed with flavor from the smoked sausage and the natural sweetness of the potatoes. It’s a perfect comfort food for a chilly day.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced (andouille, kielbasa, or your favorite kind)
• 1.5 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Optional: 1 cup chopped kale or spinach
• Optional: Heavy cream or Greek yogurt for garnish

Cooking Guide:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
2. Add the smoked sausage to the pot and cook until browned on all sides, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
3. Add the diced sweet potatoes, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, thyme, and smoked paprika. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
4. If using, stir in the kale or spinach and cook for an additional minute until wilted.
5. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Tips:

• For a richer flavor, you can brown the sausage in a separate pan before adding it to the pot. This will help to render some of the fat from the sausage.
• If you like your soup thicker, you can mash some of the cooked sweet potatoes in the pot with a potato masher.
• This soup is also delicious topped with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, or chopped fresh herbs.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Additional Notes:

• Feel free to adjust the amount of smoked sausage according to your preference.
• You can use any type of broth you like, such as beef broth or vegetable broth.
• If you don’t have diced tomatoes, you can use a 14.5-ounce can of crushed tomatoes.
• This soup is naturally gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free sausage.