Prep. Heat up a dutch oven over medium-high heat. If you are using bacon, chop it up and cook it until desired crispiness. Set aside. With a spoon remove most of the fat from the pot leaving a couple spoonfuls to cook the sausage. Brown the sausage and set aside.
2 tablespoons cooked crispy bacon, 1 pound spicy Italian ground sausage
Saute aromatics. In the same pot, add butter and cook onions until softened and golden. Stir in minced or pressed garlic and saute for another 30 seconds until fragrant. If you need, add some olive oil for cooking.
4 tablespoons unsalted or salted butter, ½ cup white onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, olive oil
Add broth. Stir in chicken broth, water, salt, pepper. Take it to a boil and reduce the heat to medium.
5 cups chicken/meat, 3 cups water, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
Cook potatoes. Add potatoes and cook the soup until potatoes are fork tender. About 10-12 minutes.
5 smaller potatoes
Assemble and simmer. Return the sausage, and add kale. Take it to gentle boil and simmer for another 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
4 cups chopped kale
Taste for seasoning. Stir in cream and bring it to a light boil again. Simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
2 cups heavy cream
Serve. Serve this delicious creamy soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese and bacon crumbles.