CABBAGE & SAUSAGE SOUP

CABBAGE & SAUSAGE SOUP
3 tablespoons butter
2 medium carrots, 4 ounces after trimming
2 stalks celery
1 small onion, 2 1/2 ounces
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound cabbage
1/2-1 teaspoon xanthan gum, optional
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
Salt and pepper, to taste
16 ounces Boar's Head kielbasa *
4 cups chicken broth, homemade preferred
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

If you chop and add the ingredients to the pot in the following order, it will give the carrots and celery a chance to get a head start before you add the cabbage.

In a large soup pot, heat the butter over medium-low heat until melted. Chop the carrots and add to the pot. Chop the celery and it to the pot. Next chop the onion and add it to the pot along with the garlic. While these vegetables are cooking, coarsely chop the cabbage; add to the pot and stir well. Turn the heat to low, cover the pot and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cut the kielbasa into bite-size pieces. When the 10 minutes are up, sprinkle the xanthan gum over the surface of the vegetables; stir in well. Add all remaining ingredients except the parsley. Go easy on the salt, or wait until the end to add it. The broth, bouillon and sausage all have a lot of salt so you may not need more. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer on low 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust the seasoning, if necessary, then stir in the parsley.

Makes about 7-8 cups or about 6-8 servings
Can be frozen

* Boar's Head kielbasa has no sugar or carbs. If you can't get sausage without sugar added, you'll have to add the carbs listed on the package to the counts below.

Per 1/6 Recipe: 272 Calories; 20g Fat; 17g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 5g Net Carbs
Per 1/8 Recipe: 204 Calories; 15g Fat; 13g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 4g Net Carbs

I wanted to come up with a variation of my White Bean Soup that didn't have beans, but still had the same delicious homey flavor. This soup is at least as good and has fewer carbs per serving. The xanthan gum gives it a little body, but you can leave it out.

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