Author Notes
When I think of inexpensive meals I almost always turn to hearty soups - a little meat and a lot of veggies go a long way. When the kids were living at home a pot of soup was usually always on the stove to accommodate their crazy schedules ( and ours!). This was one of their favorites. - inpatskitchen —inpatskitchen
Test Kitchen Notes
This soup is genius. Simmering Italian sausage in chicken broth produced an unbelievable depth of flavor in the final dish, one that I would associate with far more expensive dishes. The potatoes and beans are great textural additions to the soup and with minimal preparation, they cook up fast! I loved the addition of greens (I used kale) to the soup -- it made the soup into a complete meal, especially when we served it with a crusty bread. - foresterlady
—duclosbe1
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Ingredients
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1 pound
dried northern white beans, soaked overnight in water to cover
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1 pound
Sweet Italian sausage baked at 350F for 30 minutes
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1 cup
sliced leeks
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2
cloves minced garlic
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1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
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2 tablespoons
olive oil
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8 cups
chicken broth
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8 cups
chopped greens ( kale, spinach,collards -your choice)
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3
medium potatoes,peeled and diced in 3/4 inch cubes
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salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
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Cook the soaked beans in water for 40 to 50 minutes until tender, reserving one cup of the cooking liquid. Set aside.
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In a large soup pot saute the leeks, crushed red pepper and garlic in the olive oil until soft.
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Slice the baked Italian sausage in 1/2 inch rounds and add to the pot. Saute for about 3 minutes.
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Add the chicken broth, the reserved bean broth and the potatoes. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
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Add the greens and the cooked beans, bring back to the boil and simmer until the greens have wilted.
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Season to taste with salt and pepper.
I think I get my love for food and cooking from my mom, who was an amazing cook. She would start baking and freezing a month before Christmas in order to host our huge open house on Christmas afternoon. I watched and I learned...to this day I try not to procrastinate when it comes to entertaining.
My cooking style is pretty much all over the place, although I'm definitely partial to Greek and Italian cuisine. Oh yes, throw a little Cajun in there too!
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