1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound Linguica or smoked sausage

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, cut into thin slices

1 quart water

2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces

Pinch dried red-pepper flakes

1 pound kale, stems removed, leaves shredded

1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

1. In a large pot, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the sausage and cook, turning, until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the sausage from the pot and, when it is cool enough to handle, cut it into slices. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan.

2. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, for 1 minute longer.

3. Add the water, broth, and salt and bring the soup to a boil. Add the sausage, potatoes, and red-pepper flakes and bring back to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, for 2 minutes. Add the kale and bring the soup back to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, until the potatoes and kale are tender, about 6 minutes longer. Add the black pepper.