Pasta e Fagioli with Sausage

Yield:  Serves 4

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound mild italian sausages
• 1 carrot, chopped fine
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1 rib celery, chopped fine
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 6 cups drained and rinsed canned kidney beans (three 19-ounce cans)
• 2 3/4 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup tubetti or other small macaroni
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat. Add the sausages and cook, turning, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove. When cool enough to handle, halve the sausages lengthwise and then cut crosswise into slices.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the pot over moderately low heat. Add the carrot, onion, celery, garlic, and rosemary. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 10 minutes.

Puree 4 cups of the beans with 1 1/4cups of the broth in a blender or food processor. Add the puree to the pot along with the remaining1 1/2 cups broth, the whole beans, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes.

Stir in the pasta. Cook the soup over moderate heat, partially covered, stirring frequently, until the pasta is done, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the sausage and the pepper. Cook until the sausage is warmed through, about 1 minute.



From Cooking.com

Crockpot Sausage Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

    2 to 3 medium potatoes, peeled, cubed
    1 tablespoon cooking oil
    1 to 1 1/2 pounds Italian sausages
    1 large clove garlic, minced
    1/2 cup chopped onion
    1 can (15 ounces) stewed tomatoes
    2 cups chicken broth
    1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
    1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
    1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
    1/4 teaspoon pepper
    2 medium green bell peppers, seeded, chopped

Preparation:

Lightly grease or spray slow cooker; place potatoes in bottom of pot.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage links and brown. Slice links into 1-inch pieces and transfer to slow cooker. Add garlic and onion. In a separate bowl, combine tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and pepper; stir to blend. Pour mixture over the sausages in crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW setting 8 to 10 hours, until potatoes are tender. Add bell pepper about 1 hour before serving.
Serve as is, with crusty bread, or with rice.
Serves 6.