Description
Hearty Polish kielbasa soup warms winter nights with robust sausage and tender potatoes. Comfort flows through each spoonful, inviting you to savor rich, homemade flavors crafted with simple, satisfying ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb kielbasa sausage
- 0.5 lb bacon
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes
- 1 large onion
- 2 carrots
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 garlic cloves
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Slice kielbasa and bacon into bite-sized pieces, creating uniform chunks for even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Dice onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes into consistent, small cubes to ensure uniform cooking and texture throughout the soup.
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, allowing the oil to shimmer and become fragrant.
- Sauté bacon pieces until they turn crispy and release their savory fat, approximately 3-4 minutes, creating a rich flavor base.
- Add kielbasa to the pot and brown the sausage pieces, stirring occasionally to develop a deep, caramelized exterior, about 5 minutes.
- Incorporate chopped onions, carrots, and celery into the meat mixture, cooking until vegetables soften and become translucent, roughly 4-5 minutes.
- Mince garlic and add to the pot, stirring quickly to prevent burning and release its aromatic oils.
- Pour in chicken broth and water, then introduce dried thyme, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper to build a robust flavor profile.
- Add diced potatoes to the simmering liquid, ensuring they are fully submerged for even cooking.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and allow the soup to simmer for 20-25 minutes until potatoes become tender and start to break down slightly.
- Remove bay leaf and discard before serving to prevent any bitter notes in the final dish.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley just before serving, adding a bright, fresh element to the hearty soup.
- Ladle into warm bowls and enjoy the comforting, flavor-packed kielbasa potato soup.
Notes
- Slice meats uniformly to guarantee consistent cooking and flavor in every spoonful.
- Dice vegetables into small, even cubes for balanced texture and quicker cooking times.
- Create depth by browning meats before adding vegetables, which develops a richer, more complex taste profile.
- Prevent garlic from burning by adding it last and stirring quickly during the sautéing process.
- Remove bay leaf before serving to avoid any potential bitter undertones in the final soup.
- Customize the soup’s consistency by slightly mashing some potatoes to create a thicker, creamier texture.
- Transform this recipe into a low-sodium version by using reduced-sodium broth and limiting added salt.
- Make it gluten-free by ensuring your chicken broth and sausage are certified gluten-free products.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Polish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg