Cream of Broccoli & Sweet Italian Sausage Soup

For my Vegetarian & Vegan friends - This recipe can be easily made for your taste buds by omitting the sausage.  


Enjoy!


Yields 4-8 Servings depending on how much you like to eat! ;) 


Ingredients:
12oz Broccoli - Trader Joe's sells this Organic by the bag if you want to make it easy on yourself.
1 Large Yellow Onion - Chopped
3 Celery Stalks - Chopped
4 Carrots - Chopped
2 Portabella Mushrooms - Chopped
2-3 Clove of Garlic - Diced
1T Coconut Oil or Pasture Raised Bacon Lard 
Sea Salt - To Taste
5-7 Grinds Trader Joes South African Smoke (Optional - but this adds a nice smokey/spicy flavor to it)
1/2t Italian Seasonings
3-4 Sweet Italian Sausages - (We used the Tara Firma Farms sausages from our CSA) - I pulled off the casings before I cut into 1/2inch slices for the soup.  This is totally optional you can leave the casings on if you want.
1/4c Full Fat Coconut Milk (or Full Fat Organic Cream - for those eating dairy)
8-10c Homemade Chicken or Vegetable broth
1c Organic Pureed Tomato (optional)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Optional but delicious) - Used for drizzling at the end on soup




Directions:

• In a 7qt Enameled Cast Iron stock pot (if you don't have one any pot that is around 6-7qts in size will do just fine) melt coconut oil or bacon lard over medium heat
• Toss in Onion, Celery, Carrots, Italian Spices and saute for 5-7 min over medium heat
• Add garlic and saute for 2-3 min over medium heat
• Add diced sausage and saute for 3 min
• Pour broth & tomato sauce into stock pot (reserve 1/2 cup set aside of broth)
• Toss raw broccoli & chopped mushrooms into vitamix or food processor and add reserved 1/2c broth and blend until smooth
• Pour this mixture into your soup pot, stir & bring to boil
• Turn pot down to medium-low and simmer covered for 1hr
• Stir in 1/4 Cup Coconut Milk & Add African Smoke Seasoning & Sea Salt (to taste)
• Simmer for additional 15-30 min uncovered
• Pour into Bowls & Drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (http://shop.kasandrinos.com/3L-Can-Kotinos-Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil-2.htm)
• Enjoy!  It's not the prettiest color below with my iphone camera but trust me the taste was phenomenal!