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Saute the diced bacon in a large stockpot for 4-5 minutes. Add in the diced onion, celery and bell pepper and saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent.
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Then add the cabbage and garlic, and saute for 4 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Add the stock, potatoes, Rotel tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, smoked sausage, and stir to combine.
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Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked and tender.
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Taste and season with a few generous pinches of salt and black pepper as needed. (Also, depending on how seasoned your sausage is, feel free to stir in an extra few teaspoons of Italian seasoning if you think it needs some extra flavor. I also like to add some crushed red pepper flakes for a little spice and to help bring out the flavors.)