The only thing I like about winter is that it is soup and stew season. I could eat a hearty soup every single day of the year, and I typically do. One of my favorite stews is this hearty Italian sausage and white bean stew. It is hearty, savory, super filling and delicious!

Key Ingredients and Substitutions:

  • Bacon or lards – these are used for flavor and also the cooking fat to cook the vegetables. You can also use pork belly here, or pancetta.
  • Italian pork sausage – you can find these at Whole Foods, a butchery or most grocery stores. You can also do raw chicken sausage if you rather chicken than pork. If you cannot find sausage links, then you can use ground pork instead.
  • Tomato sauce – I like to use canned tomato sauce for a concentrated tomato flavor. This compliments the meat very well and cuts through the richness. If you cannot find tomato sauce, you can use a can of diced tomatoes or pureed tomatoes.
  • Butter beans – these are hands down my favorite beans ever. They are large, mild in flavor, and a great texture. If you cannot find butter beans, substitute a white bean like cannellini beans.
  • Chicken broth – you can use any broth here instead of chicken, stock also works.
  • Rosemary and thyme – this combo is perfect for this soup and for bringing in the Italian flavors. You can also use sage or oregano here.

@kellyscleankitchen

Italian Sausage and Butter Bean Stew #stew #soup #cooking

♬ Hinoki Wood – Gia Margaret
  • SERVINGS:  6
  • PREP TIME: 20 Mins
  • ACTIVE TIME: 50 Mins
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 Hr 10 Min

This is the perfect recipe for a cold winter day!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb bacon, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb Italian pork sausage, casing removed
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 5 carrots, diced
  • salt and pepper
  • 8 garlic cloves, minced
  • 16 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 16 oz cans butter beans, drained
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • sachet (cheesecloth of herbs tied off):
    • 3 sprigs of thyme
    • 2 sprigs rosemary

Preparation:

STEP 1.

Place a large pot stovetop and turn to medium heat. Add the bacon when the pan is cold and slowly render out the fat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. When the bacon is cooked through, around 8 minutes, add the pork sausage and cook until golden brown. Use the wooden spatula to break the sausage into small bite size pieces. Remove the bacon and sausage when they are cooked through and set aside, leaving some bacon fat in the pan.

STEP 2.

In the same pan over medium heat, add the onions and carrots. Stirring occasionally, saute until cooked through, around 5-8 minutes, salting as you go. Add the garlic cloves and saute another 2 minutes until fragrant.

STEP 3.

Stir in the tomato sauce, butter beans, chicken broth, sachet of herbs, and meat back to the soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the soup up to a low simmer and top with a lid. Simmer for 30-45 minutes to develop the flavor.

STEP 4.

Remove the sachet from the soup and discard. Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly. Serve and enjoy!

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