Greens and Veggie Sausage Soup with Cornmeal Dumplings

All I can honestly say is MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. After finding this recipe in a Bon Appetite magazine (Jan 2011) and trying it out with vegetarian chorizo style sausage (Original Field Roast Grain Meat Co.)  - my mouth was blown away by the rich, intense flavors of the soup and the incredible cornmeal dumplings that topped it off. I wholeheartedly encourage the preparation of this soup whether in its vegetarian or meat format; it is truly a little boon to my transplanted southern stomach.

Mixed-Greens and Veggie Sausage Soup with Cornmeal Dumplings (serves a LOT)

 dumplings

• 3/4 c. all purpose flour
• 3/4 c. cornmeal
• 1 Tbs. sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 c. whole milk (or 1 or 2%)
• 1 1/2 Tbs butter, melted
• 1/2 c. finely chopped green onions

  soup

• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 4 large garlic cloves, pressed
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 Tbs chopped fresh thyme (or dried)
• 1 lb andouille sausage, sliced into 1/4" rounds (or 4 veggie chorizo sausages)
• 6 c. veggie stock
• 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes in juice (or roughly 1 quart canned tomatoes)
• 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
• 1/8 tsp all spice
• 1 12 oz bag mixed turnip, mustard, and collard greens (we just used collard greens)- stems removed, sliced into 1 1/2-2" wide strips

1. To prepare the dumplings: Whisk the first 5 ingredients together in a medium bowl. Stir in milk, butter, and green onions. Let stand 1-2 hours. Line a tray  with wax paper or plastic wrap then shape into dumplings (balls) about 1 Tbs in size. Should make about 16-18 dumplings.  Cover and chill. (Can be made 1 day ahead).
2. To prepare the soup: Heat oil in a large soup pot. Saute onion, garlic, bay leaves and thyme until onion is tender. Add sausage, saute 3-5 minutes (until fat renders if meat). Add broth, tomatoes & juice, hot sauce, all spice. Bring to a simmer. (Can stop here if needed and chill 1 day in advance).  Add greens to simmering soup and cook uncovered 10 min. Carefully lower dumplings into broth, cover and reduce heat to low. Let simmer ~20-25 min so that dumplings are cooked through.