Italian Sausage and White Bean Stew Recipe

Ingredients

Before we get cooking, let’s gather all the ingredients. Don’t worry, you probably already have most of these in your kitchen! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Italian Sausage (1 lb, you can go for spicy or mild, depending on your preference)
• Canned White Beans (2 cans, drained and rinsed – cannellini beans work best)
• Carrots (2, diced)
• Celery (2 stalks, diced)
• Onion (1 medium, chopped)
• Garlic (4 cloves, minced)
• Chicken Broth (4 cups)
• Crushed Tomatoes (1 can, about 14.5 oz)
• Olive Oil (2 tbsp)
• Fresh Herbs (thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves)
• Salt and Pepper (to taste)
• Parmesan Cheese (optional, for garnish)

Pro Tip:

If you prefer a more authentic flavor, feel free to use fresh sausage links that you can remove from the casing, but any type of Italian sausage will work just fine.

How to Make Italian Sausage and White Bean Stew

Alright, let’s get to the good part: cooking this mouthwatering stew. It’s easy, but the flavors that develop as you cook are incredible.

Step 1: Brown the Sausage

Start by heating up a large pot over medium heat and adding the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the sausage (either whole or crumbled, depending on your choice) and cook it until it’s browned and fully cooked. As the sausage cooks, it will release all its flavorful juices into the pot.

Once it’s cooked through, remove the sausage from the pot and set it aside. Don’t worry about the little bits left behind – they’ll add even more flavor to the stew later.

Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables

In the same pot, toss in your diced onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté them in the leftover sausage drippings until they’re softened, about 5-7 minutes. The vegetables will pick up all that flavor, creating a delicious base for your stew.

Once the vegetables are tender and fragrant, add the garlic and cook for another minute until it becomes aromatic. You’ll begin to notice the sweet aroma filling your kitchen!

Step 3: Add the Liquids and Beans

Now, it’s time to add the chicken broth and crushed tomatoes to the pot. Stir everything together, scraping up any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pot. These bits are packed with flavor, so make sure you get all of them!

Next, toss in the white beans and stir everything well. Bring the mixture to a simmer. You’ll want to let it cook for about 15 minutes, so the flavors really meld together.

Step 4: Return the Sausage to the Pot

Once your broth is simmering, return the cooked sausage to the pot. Add in your fresh herbs (like rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves), and let everything simmer together for another 10 minutes. This will allow all the flavors to blend perfectly.

If you want to thicken the stew a bit, you can mash a portion of the beans with the back of a spoon or use an immersion blender to blend just a little. This creates a creamy texture without the need for heavy cream!

Step 5: Season and Serve

Before serving, taste your stew and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. You may also want to add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little extra heat. Once seasoned to your liking, it’s time to serve up your hearty bowl of stew.

Top each serving with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese for that perfect finishing touch.