Swamp Soup Recipe (Alabama Turnip Green Soup)
This swamp soup recipe is the classic Alabama turnip green soup with smoked sausage, white beans, black-eyed peas and tender greens in a savory, spicy broth. Southern comfort food at its best!
Servings: 8
Calories: 313kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon bacon grease or olive oil
- 1 pound Conecuh smoked sausage sliced into 1/4-inch rounds (or andouille for extra heat, kielbasa, or your favorite smoked sausage)
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper chopped (optional, for spicy)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more, to taste
- 8 cups water + 4 teaspoons chicken bouillon or 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 14 ounce cans seasoned turnip greens, with liquid (or 1 pound chopped fresh turnip greens - other greens can be used)
- 1 15 ounce can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can navy beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup ditalini pasta cooked (optional)
- Hot sauce for serving
Instructions
- Heat the bacon grease or oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned, 4-5 minutes.
- Add the onion, celery and jalapeño. Cook until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Stir in the smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, thyme and cayenne. Toast for 30 seconds.
- Add the water and bouillon, turnip greens with their liquid, beans, black-eyed peas and bay leaf. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked ditalini during the last 5 minutes, if using. Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
- Serve with hot sauce and warm cornbread. Boom! Done!
Notes
Heat Factor: Medium as written. For milder, use kielbasa and skip the jalapeño and cayenne. For spicier, use serrano chilies in place of the jalapeño and increase the cayenne. I like a generous amount of ditalini - use 1/2 cup for a brothier soup, or skip it for the traditional version.
Nutrition
Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 327IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg