You'll never guess that this soup is light and healthy when you taste the rich broth, flavored with caramelized onions, turkey sausage and beans.
I clearly need an intervention. Ever since I posted a tutorial on How to: Caramelize Onions last week, I've been caramelizing and sautéing onions left, right and center. They snuck their way into my Zucchini, Caramelized Onion & Feta Cheese Omelet and now they are one of the stars in this richly flavored soup.
Something magical happens to chicken broth when you add caramelized onions, particularly ones that have been finished off with a dose of balsamic vinegar. The sumptuous flavor and deep golden color of the sweet vegetable transform the broth from basic to hearty.
Any flavored turkey or chicken sausages will work in this soup (though I would avoid a sweet sausage, such as chicken and apple). I used our favorite 5th Street Grill turkey sausages, which we buy at Costco and weigh in at 100 calories per sausage. You've seen them in a couple of my recipes, such as Quick Farro with Sausage, Tomatoes & Arugula.
The beauty of making soups, particularly when you don't have a lot of time or patience for doing dishes, is that all of the cooking can be done in one pot. One pot to wash and dry makes for a happy mum....which means a happy family.
If you're not a fan of black beans, great northern or cannellini beans would also work well in this recipe.
Other light, comforting soup recipes:
Light Turkey (or Chicken) & Corn Chowder
Fisherman's Soup with Tilapia, Shrimp, Tomatoes & Capers
Moroccan Carrot Soup
Printable Recipe
Light Sausage, Caramelized Onion & Bean Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 flavored turkey or chicken sausages cut into ½-circles
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 onions sliced thinly into ½-circles
- Water as needed
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 ½ cups low-sodium black beans rinsed & drained
- ½ teaspoons ground pepper
- ¼ cup minced flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Lightly coat with cooking spray and add the sausages. Cook until the sausages are starting to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat.
- Add the onions, cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deep golden brown.
- During the cooking, add water as necessary to stop the onions from burning and drying out. You may need as much as ½ cup.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
- Stir in the black beans and cooked sausages. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the parsley. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes
Caramelized onions are pretty much my favorite thing ever. This soup has me so excited for Fall!
Ciao+Florentina
Caramelize onions make everything better! I sneak them in everything I can ha!
Christine at Cook the Story
Those caramelized onions look amazing!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
I love caramelized onions! They are so good on everything! This bean soup looks fantastic, Dara!
Lori+@+RecipeGirl
Making this for my family this fall! So delicious!
Dara
Thanks, Lori. I hope you have a chance to try it.
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
I wish I am having a bowl of this for lunch today! Looks so good!
Dara
Thanks, Bianca. I need to make another batch for lunches this week.
Megan
I make a version of this, not as flavorful though, It's time t change.
Dara
I hope you have a chance to try it, Megan!
Deborah
Caramelized onions are one of my favorite things ever. LOVE this, Dara!
Dara
Thanks, Deb! Their flavor really does add something special.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
I'm so excited it's finally chilly enough for soup! This will definitely be added to the rotation 🙂
Dara
I'm excited too, Rachel. This is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year. I hope you have a chance to try the soup.
Erin+|+The+Law+Student's+Wife
Caramelized onions make EVERYTHING better. I made them in mega batches, then freeze. I know just what to do with a bit of my next stash now 🙂
Dara
They really do! I love the idea of freezing the extra caramelized onions to keep on hand.