Italian Black Bean, Sausage and Spinach Soup

There is just something about tomatoes and Italian spices simmering that never fails to make me smile. Luckily for me, everyone in my family shares this love of Italian flavors. One of my favorite meats to include in a soup is sausage. If you choose a spicy or hot variety, the sausage alone will bring a great deal of flavor to the soup. Along with some tomatoes, beans and baby spinach, this was a really great combination of flavors that every member of the family enjoyed. My middle son ate three bowls of this soup and told me twice that it was a two thumbs up meal.

Here is another flavorful, quick and simple soup that can be on the table, start to finish in about half an hour. It is already a new favorite for my family.

As we were eating this for lunch, my husband asked me if I'd paid attention to what I was tossing into the soup this time. Often, when I'm putting soups together for quick meals, I don't write down the recipe as I go. If we all like it, I'll make it again another time or two before posting it, just to be certain that it's right. He said that he definitely wanted to have this again and the older two boys immediately echoed him. 

Italian Black Bean, Sausage and Spinach Soup

1 lb hot sausage
28 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 can
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, adjust to taste
6 cups chicken broth (or 6 cups water, plus 2 tablespoons Better than Bouillon chicken base- if you've managed to run out of broth in the freezer)
1 teaspoon kosher salt, adjust to taste
3 big handfuls spinach, roughly chopped or torn if large pieces, about 6 cups

Cook and crumble the sausage in the bottom of a large soup pot or dutch oven. Once the sausage is cooked, add all the remaining ingredients (except for the spinach) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or so. Taste the broth and adjust the seasonings as needed. Add the spinach and stir to combine. Let it simmer just until the spinach is wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Enjoy!

Click here for printable recipe