Recipe: Succotash Sausage Soup

Serves 6.

Note: Succotash — the combo of corn and lima beans — is a summer favorite side dish for my family. Here it's made into a hearty meal of soup by adding kielbasa. Want to keep it vegetarian? Just omit the sausage and use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.

• 2 tbsp. butter

• 10 oz. turkey kielbasa, cut into thin half-rounds

• 2 c. chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only; about 1 or 2 medium)

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into small dice

• 3 tbsp. flour

• 4 c. low-sodium chicken broth

• 2 c. frozen baby lima beans

• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

• 1 (14 3/4-oz.) can creamed corn

• 1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen corn kernels

• 1/4 c. heavy cream

Directions

Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, leeks, garlic and red pepper; sauté until vegetables are soft, about 6 minutes. Add the flour and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add broth, lima beans, thyme, salt and pepper and bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until lima beans are tender, about 10 minutes. Add creamed corn and corn kernels and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the cream and serve hot.

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories340

Carbohydrates42 g

Fat13 gSaturated fat6 gSodium900 mg

Calcium64 mg

Protein17 gCholesterol46 mgDietary fiber6 g

Diabetic exchanges per serving: 3 bread/starch, 1 medium-fat meat, 1½ fat.