Hearty Portuguese Kale Soup

Adapted from http://www.justvegetablerecipes.com/

Ingredients:

1 T Olive oil
1/2 lb Smoked sausage sliced 1/2" thick
1 quart Chicken broth
1 medium Onion, thinly sliced
1 T Butter
3 medium Potatoes, sliced
1 lb. kale stemmed and shredded
Freshly ground black pepper
Sea salt

Directions:
Heat oil in a skillet; saute the sausage just until the fat is rendered, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

Saute onions in butter without allowing to brown until yellow and transparent.

Add broth to onion and bring to a boil; add potatoes and simmer 10 to 15 minutes until potatoes are very tender. Mash onions and potatoes in the broth with a potato masher or slotted spoon. Add drained sausage slices and the kale. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, until kale is tender. Taste for seasoning - depending on how spicy your sausage is, add salt and pepper to taste. Serve piping hot.

Variations:
For a richer soup that resembles Zuppa Toscana found at The Olive Garden, add 4 bacon slices, chopped and 1 T crushed pepper flakes to the sausage. Finish the soup by adding a cup of cream and heating through without allowing to boil just prior to serving.