My Sausage, White Bean & Kale Soup

A chunky, satisfying soup to welcome shorter and colder evenings.

As October comes to a close, the inevitable chill of the cold season is beginning to set in here in Brittany. To add to that, tomorrow France will shift to “l’heure d’hiver” - daylight savings time. We’ll be setting the clocks back an hour, gaining an extra hour of sleep, which most people are thrilled about. But for me? Not so much! As someone who’s naturally an early riser, this time change throws my routine completely off. Instead of relishing that extra hour, I usually end up wide awake at 4:30 a.m., eager to start the day while the world still sleeps. Come 8 p.m., I’m wilting, cozying up on the couch with eyes barely staying open. It's a strange trade-off between feeling supercharged too early and being wiped out by evening!

With that said, the cold and time transition aren’t all bad. They invite us to retreat a bit, nestle at home and embrace something I most definitely wait for all year - soup season! I have to say, soup makes this time of year a lot less negative in the end. When the Breton wind sweeps in from the coast, there’s nothing quite like a fragrant, steaming bowl of soup to take the edge off.

This year, as always, I’ll be bringing out my classics: the rustic and deeply flavorful Soupe Paysanne is my personal favorite. Roasted Carrot Soup is one that my husband Marc asks for on repeat. Then there’s the Classic French Onion Soup, a classic that always delights our guests, with its caramelized depth and melted cheese – no one ever leaves the table disappointed.

French Soups for the Winter {no paywall}

• Roasted Carrot Soup

• Classic French Lentil Soup

• Watercress Soup (Soupe de Cresson)

• Classic French Onion Soup

• Smoked Ham Hock Bean Cabbage Soup (Garbure)

• Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup

• French Cabbage and Sausage Soup

• Classic French Carrot Soup (Potage Crecy)

• Split Pea Bacon Soup (Potage Saint Germain)

• Provencal Garlic Soup (Aïgo Boulido)

• Tomato Velouté Soup

• Creamy Leek and Potato Soup (Soupe Vichyssoise)

• Creamy Chestnut Soup

Of course, I’m always on the hunt for something new to ladle up, so today, I’m thrilled to share with you my latest creation: Sausage, White Bean and Kale Soup.