Minestrone with White Beans and Italian Sausage

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The Italian minestra refers to a variety of moderately thick soup. Minestrone is a hearty vegetable-filled minestra that often contains beans and sometimes pasta. We've omitted the pasta here but added some Italian sausage. With minestrone, it seems, there is no end to the delectable variations. Plus: More Soup Recipes 

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Published on January 24, 2014
Minestrone with White Beans and Italian Sausage
Photo: © Kristin Gladney
Yield:
4
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage (casings removed)

  • 1 onion (chopped)

  • 1 carrot (chopped)

  • 1 rib celery (chopped)

  • 1 clove garlic (minced)

  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 4 cups drained and rinsed canned white beans, preferably cannellini (from two 19-ounce cans)

  • 10 cups water

  • 1 cup canned diced tomatoes with their juice

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

  • ⅔ pound spinach (about 1 1/2 quarts stems removed and leaves washed well)

  • Grated Parmesan (for serving)

Directions

  1. In a large pot, heat the oil over moderately high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring frequently, until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon.

  2. Reduce the heat to moderate. Add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, combine 2 cups of the beans and 2 cups of the water in a blender and puree until smooth.

  4. Add the tomatoes, the bean puree, the remaining 8 cups water, the salt, and the pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Stir in the sausage, the remaining 2 cups beans, and the spinach. Simmer until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Serve the soup topped with grated Parmesan, and pass more Parmesan at the table.

Suggested Pairing

It's only natural to partner this traditional Italian soup with a classic Italian red wine. Either a Tuscan Chianti or a Dolcetto from the hills of Piedmont will be splendid.

Originally appeared: January 2014

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