Pressure Cooker Smoked Sausage, White Bean and Vegetable Soup 🌟🥣

This delightful and hearty soup is perfect for chilly evenings or when you need a quick, satisfying meal. The smokiness of the sausage, combined with the creaminess of the white beans and a variety of vibrant vegetables, makes for a comforting bowl of goodness that will keep your family coming back for seconds. The pressure cooker simplifies the cooking process, making it a breeze to prepare!

Ingredients

For the soup

• 1 lb smoked sausage ( kielbasa or andouille), sliced
• 1 can (15 oz) white beans (cannellini or navy), drained and rinsed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chopped kale or spinach
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, with juices
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil for sautéing

For garnish (optional)

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Crusty bread, for serving

Instructions

1. Sauté the sausage: Set your pressure cooker to sauté mode. Add a drizzle of olive oil, then add the sliced sausage. Cook for about 5 minutes, until browned. Remove the sausage and set aside.

2. Cook the vegetables: In the same pot, add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 4-5 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute, until fragrant.

🔥 Be careful not to burn the garlic; it can turn bitter! If needed, reduce the heat slightly.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients: Return the sausage to the pot. Then, add the white beans, kale or spinach, diced tomatoes (with juices), broth, thyme, smoked paprika, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine everything well.

4. Pressure cook: Lock the lid onto the pressure cooker and set it to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.

5. Release the pressure: After the cooking time is up, allow for a natural release for about 5 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.

6. Serve: Carefully remove the bay leaf from the soup. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

🍞 This soup pairs beautifully with a slice of crusty bread for dipping!

Variations

• Spicy: Add a diced jalapeño or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes for an extra kick. 🔥
• Vegetarian: Replace the smoked sausage with a plant-based sausage and use vegetable broth.
• Add grains: Stir in cooked quinoa or brown rice at the end for added texture and heartiness.
• Low-carb: Skip the beans and add radishes or zucchini for a lighter version that’s still full of flavor.

Enjoy this comforting and nourishing soup, packed with flavors and goodness! 🌱🥄