Sausage, Pumpkin and Arborio Soup

Ingredients

• 0.8 cup arborio rice 
• 1 large bay leaf 
• 1 pound bulk sausage sweet italian with fennel
• 6 cups chicken stock see 
• 2 tablespoons evoo plus more for drizzling
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 2 cups half-and-half 
• 1 small bunch tuscan kale stemmed chopped
• 6 servings kosher salt and pepper freshly ground
• 6 servings nutmeg freshly grated
• 1  onion chopped
• 6 servings parmigiano-reggiano shaved for serving
• 2 pounds pumpkin peeled cut into 3/4-inch dice
• 3 leaves sage torn fresh

Equipment

• bowl
• ladle
• wooden spoon
• dutch oven

Directions

1. Heat the EVOO in a soup pot or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. Add the sausage and cook, crumbling it with a wooden spoon, until browned.
3. Add the garlic and onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the bay leaf and squash and season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Stir in the stock and half-and-half and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and add the kale. Simmer until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes.
5. Add the rice and simmer until just tender, 18 to 20 minutes, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the sage.
6. Ladle the soup into shallow bowls. Top with Parmigiano-Reggiano and a drizzle of EVOO. Cook's Note: The soup, without the rice, can be covered and refrigerated for a make-ahead meal.
7. Add the rice before serving.