Red Cabbage And Sausage Soup

Modified from . . .RED CABBAGE AND SAUSAGE SOUP

This is yummy! I made it was the 'meat' for Joe, but the same could be accomplished without. I would use cabbage, maybe add some quinoa and some more smoked paprika.

prep time: 20 mins
cook time: 35 mins
total time: 55 mins
serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup black eyed peas, dry (or 2 cups cooked)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 leeks, chopped or 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp hot pepper flakes 
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 8 cups chicken/vegetable stock (Healthy DIY stock powder) 
• 1 lb red potatoes, washed and cut into ½ inch pieces
• ½ lb pork sausages, cooked and then sliced into ½ inch pieces or sliced garlic sausage
• ½ lb red cabbage, shredded (cabbage is about the size of 2 fists held together)
• ½ cup heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

If starting from dry black eyed peas:

Prepare Peas:

• Soak peas overnight in a large bowl of water. 
• Drain water and transfer peas to a pot. 
• Cover with at least 1 inch of water. 
• Add bay leaf and a healthy dose of salt and cook for 30-40 minutes, until peas are tender and soft. 
• Drain and set aside.

No time to soak peas: 

• On stove top - Put 1 cup of dried peas in a 4-qt. stock pot. 
• Cover peas with 6 cups of hot water. 
• Add salt and pepper to taste, along with seasonings if desired. 
• Bring the pot to a boil. 
• Cover the pot and reduce the heat to simmer. 
• Cook peas for 45 minutes to 1 hour until tender.

To make soup:

1. Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven or soup pot. 
2. Add garlic and leeks or onions and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often until translucent.
3. Add paprika and hot pepper flakes and stir and fry for 2 minutes. 
4. In a small bowl, combine corn starch and ¼ cup stock. Whisk until corn starch dissolves. 
5. Pour corn starch mixture into dutch oven and cook for 1-2 minutes. 
6. Add remaining broth, potatoes, and sausage. 
7. Season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
8. Optional: saute red cabbage until soft.
9. Add red cabbage and black eyed peas to pot and cook for an additional 10 minutes. 
10. Lastly stir in cream and cook for 4-5 minutes more (Optional).Instead, we will add sour cream when serving and again, that's optional.