Christmas Soup

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2008

Show: Food Network SpecialsEpisode: Holiday Extravaganza

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (27)

Cook Time:
1 hr 30 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 4 hr 0 min
Cook: 1 hr 30 min
Total:: 6 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

1 pound kielbasa, sliced 1/4-inch thick on bias
Vegetable oil, as needed
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound red kidney beans, soaked at least 4 hours and up to overnight
2 quarts chicken broth
1 pound red bliss potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 ounces fresh kale, approximately 4 handfuls
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place the kielbasa into a 7-quart Dutch oven and set over medium-low heat. Cook until the kielbasa has browned well and rendered its fat, approximately 15 minutes. If you do not have at least 2 teaspoons of fat, add enough vegetable oil to make 2 teaspoons. Remove the kielbasa from the pan and set aside.

Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from burning. Add the beans and the chicken broth and cook, covered, for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, add the potatoes, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Wash, rinse and trim the kale and tear into bite size pieces. Add the kale to the pot, cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes or just until it is tender, but not mushy.

Add the red wine vinegar and black pepper and stir to combine. Evenly distribute the kielbasa between 8 soup bowls. Laddle the soup into bowls and serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Christmas Soup
Geneva Grand Forks, ND 02-02-2010
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Great!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This soup is so good!! My mom had never had kale before and she thought it was awesome in this soup. I almost forgot to put... the vinegar at the end and I'm glad I remembered because that was my favorite part. It would have been a little bland without it I think. I used canned beans instead of dried and it worked out very well. This was the first recipe of Alton's that I have tried and will definately have it again. I ate off the pot of soup all week long for lunch at work and the last bowl I had was by far the best bowl. All the flavors became more intense throghout the week and it was sooooo yummy! Give this one a try for sure! Read more
recipe Christmas Soup
Amy San Antonio, TX 01-10-2010
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A New Favorite!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

We live in Texas and it is unseasonably cold here! I made this soup for lunch today & it warmed up our bones! My 3 year old... son helped me wash the kale and the potatoes. Since he contributed in the making of the soup, he was really proud of it and ate two helpings! This was surprising because he's usually kinda picky. Today was also the first time we've had kale & I liked the texture it added to the soup. I used canned red kidney beans and it was still great. I hadn't read any of the reviews prior to making it, so I didn't add any onions and kept the vinegar amount the same as the recipe. We'll be making this again very soon! Read more
recipe Christmas Soup
Maggie Plainfield, IL 01-08-2010
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Great Winter Soup!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I live in the Chicagoland area and just made this soup today. It is very cold outside and this hit the spot!!! My boyfriend... said this recipe is a keeper. I followed alot of the recommendations made by the other reviewers and it turned out GREAT! I added onions and sauteed them with the garlic. I added a bay leaf and cut the red wine vinegar in half. This was the first time I ate Kale and it works perfect with this soup, it added a nice texture and stands up well in the soup. I didn't have time to soak kidney beans so I used canned and it was fine. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and Thanks to Alton for sharing a great family recipe!!Read more
recipe Christmas Soup
Brian Carrollton, TX 01-04-2010
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Not just for Christmas!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Very good soup! I have found why so many chefs love Kale. It is what made this soup different and better. Being an... on-the-go family, I can't ever be sure what we are eating the next day, so soaking beans isn't an option. Canned, drained beans worked perfectly. Don't be afraid to just throw the sausage into the soup.....everyone gets plenty, and it works better for leftovers. My only issue was with the vinegar.. I'm not a vinegar fan, and the taste was just too prominant. I think 1/2 the amount will do just fine next time. They really should change the name so people won't pass it by thinking it's just for Christmas. This is a good anytime soup.Read more
recipe Christmas Soup
Santana Mount Airy, NC 12-27-2009
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Wow! So good and so easy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This soup is amazing...just what you need on a cold winter day. I served this with a pan of cornbread. Delicious! Thanks... Alton!Read more
recipe Christmas Soup
Bridget Shiloh, IL 12-25-2009
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Sooo Good!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Made this soup today for dinner...WOW! Followed some other reviews and sauteed a chopped onion with the garlic along with... some red pepper flakes for some heat. Used three cans of drained kidney beans and they seemed to do just fine! I also substituted defrosted frozen spinach since I forgot the kale...and since it's Christmas Day and all the grocery stores are closed, spinach had to do...and it did VERY well! I will definitely make this soup again with the kale, tho. I thought the red wine vinegar gave it the extra zip it needed! This soup is perfect for a cold winter day!Read more