Guest Sunday Soup: Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup

Hi there, Souper Troopers...! Another great guest soup this week, this time by one of my best friends, Lisa... We go to the same gym, and we both got involved in an 8-week fat-loss challenge, so we are eating a little healthier right now. Specifically, we tend to eat "paleo" (a style of eating associated with clean foods and low-carb intake, recognized as an effective way to reduce overall body fat) when we are on challenge, which led Lisa to WHOLE30 (with some help from her nutrition guru, Kim). This soup is featured in the WHOLE30 Cookbook (by Melissa Hartwig), but also happens to be found online. Thanks to Lisa for making a soup and sharing her impressions and advice with us on this recipe!

Name: Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup

Original Recipe From: https://whole30.com/2016/12/whole30-cookbook-1/ (WHOLE30 Cookbook by Melissa Hartwig)

*Pic 1 - Picture from https://whole30.com/2016/12/whole30-cookbook-1/

Any Changes?: Lisa made this recipe as-is, but for two small alterations... First, she doubled it. Like me, Lisa has a family that likes to eat, and we never mind leftovers, so making double is always an option! She was also out of fresh thyme, so she used freeze-dried instead (not usually a big deal; freeze-dried is normally better than the regular dry spice).

*Pics 2 & 3 - Pictures from when Lisa made it

So, Was It Any Good?:

Best to let Lisa tell you about the soup in her own words: "I feel like the flavor is a little boring - like it's missing something (salt maybe... but I didn't want to get heavy handed). It tastes good, but I think it needed a different meat; I used plain ground pork (per the recipe), but I think a sweet Italian sausage would be better... I wasn't put off by all the Kale (eye roll ... boys!).  I used grated Parmesan to garnish, but I think a shaved parm would have been better.  I also missed bread. :(  It was super easy to make, and I would make this again no problem."

How did the rest of her family like it? "Jayson said there was too much kale (he suggested I use only 1/4 the kale called for by the recipe). He said the flavor was good, but it needs more cheese (on top). Not a favorite, but he would eat it again. Andrew also said too much kale, good flavor, not a favorite, but he would eat it again."

Verdict: So, it sounds like, if you are of a mind to eat healthy and don't have a kale allergy, this soup is a keeper. But, if you are "a boy," and the thought of kale conjures images of a malnourished rabbit, then definitely consider Lisa's suggestions to make this one a winner!

Thanks, Lisa, for sharing a great recipe!