Hearty Sausage White Bean Stew (Printer-friendly)

Savory sausage, white beans, and vegetables simmered together for a warm, comforting dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 14 oz smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille), sliced into rounds

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 14 oz canned diced tomatoes, drained
08 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
09 - 2 (14 oz) cans white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), drained and rinsed
10 - 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, roughly chopped

→ Liquids

11 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add sliced sausage and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until browned. Remove sausage and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add diced onion, sliced carrots, celery, and bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add drained diced tomatoes, smoked paprika, dried thyme, bay leaf, and optional chili flakes. Stir to combine.
05 - Return browned sausage to the pot. Add white beans and chicken broth. Bring mixture to a simmer.
06 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Remove lid, stir in spinach or kale, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until wilted. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
08 - Remove bay leaf before serving. Serve hot, optionally with crusty bread.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like someone's been tending it for hours, but you'll be done in under an hour with one pot to clean.
  • The sausage does all the heavy lifting for flavor, so you don't need to fuss with a dozen spices or fancy techniques.
  • It's the kind of dinner that works on a Tuesday or when friends show up unannounced and you need to look capable.
02 -
  • Drain those canned tomatoes or your stew will be watery and weak, I forgot once and regretted it immediately.
  • Don't skip browning the sausage at the start. that caramelization is doing more work than you think.
  • If the stew looks too thick after simmering, add a splash more broth. if it's too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.
03 -
  • If your sausage is especially fatty, pour off some of the grease after browning so the stew doesn't feel heavy.
  • Taste the stew before adding salt. the sausage and broth might have already done the job.
  • Let it sit for five minutes after cooking. it thickens slightly and the flavors pull together even more.
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