I’ve said it before: I am a fan of comfort food. Nothing is as comforting to me as a meal in a bowl-more specifically a hearty soup or stew. I eat soup year-round, but fall brings out a particular hankering for bowls of warm, filling soups that can serve as my lunch or dinner with nothing more to accompany it than a good piece of crusty bread to sop up some of the broth.
One such stew is a staple in our house because it is quick, easy to make, and can be improvised and improved upon in a number of ways.
This recipe was originally inspired by this recipe from Bon Appetite Magazine. We’ve changed it up a bit and have landed on our favorite version which I am sharing with you today. The real bonus is that it uses very little fat because I sub turkey Italian sausage in instead of using cured Spanish chorizo, so while you will feel satisfied with this meal, you won’t feel like you have overdone it (the way I usually feel when I indulge in most comfort foods). It has a rich and deep flavor without feeling heavy. I just love it.
Do feel free to improvise and use ingredients that appeal to you and your family. My son just started to really enjoy this stew (soup is new to him), so I can say with confidence, that it has been kid tested!
White bean, Kale and Sausage Stew
- 1-2 T Olive Oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 3 or 4 turkey Italian sausage (mild or hot depending on the preferences of your diners) cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 cans cannellini beans with their liquid
- 1 bunch washed and chopped Kale or 1 bag of prewashed , prewashed kale
- 4 C. low-sodium chicken broth
- Salt, pepper to taste
Heat 1 T olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat
Add sausage pieces and cook until pink is gone and pieces have browned. Remove sausage from pan into a bowl or plate and set aside
Add 1T (or less) olive oil or a little water to pot if needed
Add onions and garlic to pot stirring frequently about 4 minutes
Add the beans and liquid to pot stir and let the beans heat through for 2-3 minutes
Add a little water if beans get dry
With a potato masher mash some of the beans directly in the pot to thicken the stew a bit
Add the kale to the pot
Add the broth to the pot and stir. Let the stew heat through until it bubbles slowly
Add the sausage back into the pot and stir
Simmer over low heat another 3-5 minutes
Add salt and pepper to taste