Turkey Sausage, Collards & Black-Eyed Pea Soup

This smoky, spicy soup is an exceptionally healthy twist on a Southern classic.  Smoked turkey sausage, black eyed peas, collard greens, onions and roasted tomatoes combine with smoked paprika and garlic to provide depths of flavor that bely the simplicity of this one pot meal. Black eyed peas and collards are nutrition powerhouses. One cup of collards provides 100% daily value for Vitamin A, 66% for Vitamin C, and 26% for Calcium. A half cup of black-eyed peas provides 350% daily value for Vitamin B1, 80% for B2, and 20% for Iron and Magnesium. In addition, red bell pepper, onion and garlic are wonderful sources of free radical fighting antioxidants.

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Serves: 6
Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 ounces smoked turkey sausage (andouille or kielbasa), cutinto ½ inch thick slices
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 bunch collard greens, chopped into bite sized pieces
• 1 small yellow onion
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 2 (15.5 ounce) cans black-eyed peas
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
• 4 cups (1 quart) low-sodium chicken stock
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

‍Cooking Instructions

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in large pot. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown, about 5 minutes.  
2. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, bell pepper, onions, collards, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper and chili flakes to sausage and cook, stirring until vegetables soften and onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add chicken stock, water, tomatoes and black-eyed peas to the pot, stir and increase heat to high. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 more minutes. Plate and serve immediately.

Nutrition per serving:
297 calories; 10.5 g fat (2 g sat, 5.5 g mono, 3 g poly); 35 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrate; 15 g protein; 8.5 g fiber; 600 mg sodium; 773 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: 145% daily value (dv) for Vitamin C, 100% Vitamin A, 347% Vitamin B1, 80% Vitamin B2, 23% Iron, 18% Magnesium, 26% Calcium).

Recipe by Katy Nishida