Herbed White Bean and Sausage Stew

 

 

Herbed White Bean and Sausage Stew is a great winter dish. Think of it as the worlds best Pork and Beans. It is delicious, hearty and reheats well. Highly recommend this great dish. We started with a favorite: Caesar Salad. Wonderful meal!

Herbed White Bean and Sausage Stew

Here’s a meaty, cold-weather stew laden with white beans, sweet Italian sausage, rosemary, thyme, cumin and garlic. It is deeply flavored and complex, but quite easy to make. Pan-fry the sausages in a bit of olive oil, then sauté the vegetables with cumin and tomato paste in the drippings. Add plenty of water and the dried beans that, wait for it, you did not have to soak. Simmer until the house is fragrant and the windows fog up (about 2 hours).

 

Time: 2 1/2 hours

 

2       tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, more for serving

2       pound sweet Italian sausage, sliced 3/4-inch thick

1       tablespoon tomato paste

½      teaspoon ground cumin

4       medium carrots, finely diced

2       celery stalks, finely diced

2       onion, chopped

3       garlic cloves, finely chopped

1       pound dried Great Northern beans, rinsed and picked through

2       teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste

4       thyme sprigs

2       large rosemary sprig

1       bay leaf

2       teaspoons balsamic vinegar, more for serving

½      teaspoon ground black pepper, more to taste.

Throw in a Parmesan Cheese Rind

 

1.            Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and brown until cooked through, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.

2.            Add the tomato paste and cumin to the pot. Cook, stirring, until dark golden, about 2 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beans, 8 cups water, salt, thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and simmer gently until the beans are tender, about 2 hours, adding more water if needed to make sure the beans remain submerged.

3.            When the beans are tender, return the sausage to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into warm bowls and serve drizzled with additional vinegar and olive oil.

4.            Yield: 6 to 8 servings.