Smoked sausage & spinach soup is chock full of veggies and smoky flavor, so really hits the spot on a fall or winter day; I made mine here with some sale Butterball turkey sausage, but really any smoked sausage or kielbasa will work.
Chop up sausage and brown in large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
When sausage is browned, remove to a separate bowl and set aside.
Meanwhile, chop your veggies.
Saute carrots over medium heat for a few minutes in the grease from the sausage, then add celery and onions and saute until softened.
Add mushrooms and saute until softened.
When vegetables are soft, add the sausage back in along with the broth, beans, tomatoes, spices, and water.
Simmer on low heat for at least an hour to combine flavors.
Remove bay leaf and stir in baby spinach until wilted, then serve.
Notes
I usually slice in coins and then halve those if I'm using two packs of sausage, or quarter them if I'm using one pack. This totally depends on how meaty you want it; it's good either way! If you're using turkey sausage you may need to add a little olive oil before sauteing the carrots, because it's lower in fat. Easy smoked sausage & spinach soup is naturally gluten and dairy free, provided that your smoked sausage is.