🍲 Kielbasa & Sauerkraut Soup

✨ Introduction

A hearty, tangy, and comforting soup loaded with smoky kielbasa, tender potatoes, and briny sauerkraut—perfect for chilly days.

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 pound kielbasa, sliced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (14 oz) sauerkraut, drained and rinsed
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
• Chopped parsley, for garnish

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil/butter in a pot over medium heat. Sauté onion 3–4 minutes until soft, add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
2. Brown kielbasa: Add sliced kielbasa and cook 3–4 minutes until lightly browned.
3. Simmer: Stir in chicken broth, potatoes, sauerkraut, bay leaf, and caraway (if using). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
4. Cook: Simmer 20–25 minutes until potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Finish: Remove bay leaf. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.

💡 Tips

• Extra tang: Add a splash of sauerkraut juice or apple cider vinegar at the end.
• Richer broth: Stir in 1 tablespoon Dijon or a knob of butter before serving.