Sausage and Kale Soup

I'm not gonna lie....when I was putting this soup together, I was like....ugh.....this dinner is gonna suck. Then I took my first bite, and holy moley.....this stuff was good!  It tasted like those 15 bean soup packs you do in the crockpot with the ham hock.  So, if ever you were to NOT judge a book by it's cover...this would be it.  Give this a try, and I promise you will not be sorry.

1-14 ounce package smoked turkey sausage, cubed (4 reds)
1 leek(whites and light green parts only), chopped and washed (3 greens)
3 cups washed and chopped kale (3 greens)
1-32 ounce container of unsalted chicken broth
1-14.5 ounce can no salt added petite diced tomatoes (2 purple or 2 green)
1-15 ounce can great white northern beans, drained and rinsed (3 yellows)
1 teaspoon EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup shredded cheese (4 blues)

Directions:  In a large pot, over medium-high heat, cook EVOO and sausage until heated.  Stir this constantly, because with the low fat content, it will burn and stick quickly.  So keep it moving.  Add leeks, kale, broth, tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Heat to a boil, then cover and simmer on low.  Meanwhile, take the rinsed beans and puree them in a blender/processor....OR mash with a potato masher.  Add pureed beans to the soup.  Continue to simmer for 30 minutes.  Before serving, add cheese and stir until mixed.  Enjoy!!!

Yield:  4 VERY LARGE servings
**This recipe is clean eating and 21 Day Fix approved.**
21 Day Fix: 2 greens (or 1.5 green and .5 purple), 1 red, 1 blue