Swamp Soup

 

🥣 What Is Swamp Soup?

Swamp Soup is a one-pot meal that originated in the Southern United States, often made with smoked sausage, white beans, and turnip greens or other leafy greens. It’s rich, warming, and full of flavor.

It gets its name from the appearance of the greens suspended in a brothy soup—almost like you're looking into a little swamp! But it's far from gross—it's cozy, smoky, earthy, and incredibly satisfying.

It’s a favorite in areas where collards, turnip greens, or mustard greens are common—places like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

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🌿 Ingredients (Traditional Version)

Here’s a breakdown of the classic Swamp Soup ingredients:

Protein:

• Smoked sausage – like Andouille or Kielbasa, sliced

Greens:

• Turnip greens, collard greens, or mustard greens – fresh or canned

• Kale or spinach also works if you're adapting

Beans:

• Great Northern beans, navy beans, or cannellini beans

• Some versions use black-eyed peas for Southern flair

Vegetables:

• Onion

• Garlic

• Optional: Celery, carrots, or bell pepper

Broth:

• Chicken broth – gives it a rich, savory flavor

Extras:

• Rotel tomatoes (diced tomatoes with green chilies)

• Seasonings: Salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder

• Hot sauce – optional but recommended

• Apple cider vinegar – to brighten up the greens

• Pasta (optional) – ditalini, orzo, or elbow macaroni

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🧑‍🍳 How to Make Swamp Soup (Step-by-Step Recipe)

🕐 Time:

• Prep: 15 minutes

• Cook: 40 minutes

• Total: ~1 hour

🍲 Serves:

• 6–8 generous portions

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✅ Ingredients List:

• 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 6 cups chicken broth

• 1 can (15 oz) Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes

• 1 bunch turnip greens, chopped (or 1 can, drained)

• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

• Optional: 1 cup pasta (orzo or ditalini)

• Optional: a few dashes of hot sauce

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🔥 Instructions:

1. Brown the Sausage

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned. Remove and set aside.

2. Sauté the Veggies

In the same pot, add a drizzle of oil if needed and sauté the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté another minute until fragrant.

3. Add Broth and Tomatoes

Pour in chicken broth and Rotel tomatoes (with their juices). Stir to combine.

4. Add Beans and Greens

Add the drained beans and chopped greens to the pot. If using fresh greens, cook them down for a few minutes until wilted.

5. Season the Soup

Stir in Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste. Simmer for 20–25 minutes.

6. Optional: Add Pasta

If using pasta, stir it in during the last 10 minutes of cooking and simmer until tender.

7. Brighten the Flavor

Stir in a splash of apple cider vinegar before serving to cut through the richness and boost flavor.

8. Serve Hot

Ladle into bowls, serve with crusty bread, cornbread, or a side of rice.

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🧂 Flavor Profile

Swamp Soup is:

• Smoky from the sausage

• Savory from the broth and beans

• Earthy from the greens

• Spicy (if you want) from hot sauce and Rotel

• Brightened by vinegar at the end

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🥄 Variations

• Vegetarian Swamp Soup: Omit sausage, use veggie broth, and double the beans.

• Creamy Swamp Soup: Stir in a splash of cream or add a dollop of sour cream when serving.

• Extra Hearty: Add diced potatoes or sweet potatoes for a chunkier soup.

• Rice Instead of Pasta: Stir in cooked rice toward the end for a gumbo-style twist.

• With Bacon: Start by rendering chopped bacon before sautéing onions for a smoky base.

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🥶 Storage & Leftovers

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

• Freezer: Swamp Soup freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.

• Reheat: Gently reheat on the stove or microwave. Add a splash of broth if it thickens too much.

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🍽 Serving Suggestions

Swamp Soup is fantastic with:

• Cornbread (classic!)

• Garlic bread

• Crackers

• Hot sauce on the side

• A dollop of sour cream

• Fresh chopped parsley or green onions on top

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🧠 Fun Fact

In some circles, Swamp Soup is jokingly called the “Swamp Thing's Stew” or “Bayou Broth.” The name has become a fun, regional way to describe a simple, resourceful soup that makes use of pantry staples and garden greens.

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📝 Summary Recipe Card

Ingredient	Amount
Smoked sausage	1 lb, sliced
Onion	1, diced
Garlic	2 cloves, minced
Chicken broth	6 cups
Great Northern beans	1 can (15 oz)
Rotel tomatoes	1 can (10 oz)
Turnip greens	1 bunch (or 1 can)
Cajun seasoning	1 tsp
Apple cider vinegar	1 tsp
Pasta (optional)	1 cup
Salt & pepper	To taste
Hot sauce	To taste