Sausage is one of our favorite soup ingredients, but we’re less fond of the grease slick it can leave floating on the surface. Our solution: Brown the sausage while the soup is simmering, and combine the two just before serving. No cooking time added, and much fat subtracted.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 3/4 pounds green cabbage (about 1/2 head), shredded (about 1 3/4 quarts)
  • 1 pound baking potatoes (about 2), peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices
  • 1 quart water
  • 2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 pound smoked sausage, such as kielbasa, quartered lengthwise and sliced thin crosswise

Directions

  1. In a large pot, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.

  2. Add the cabbage, potatoes, water, broth, bay leaf, thyme, and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage and potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, put a large nonstick frying pan over moderate heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the sausage from the pan and drain on paper towels. Just before serving, remove the bay leaf from the soup and stir in the sausage.