Italian White Beans (with sausage)

Sunday, September 16, 2007

this is a great and healthy recipe! influenced by jamie oliver again, i think i'll have a lot of this italian beauty in the winter. a real tummy warmer and makes the house smell lovely! i can't believe how simple it is too. about 5 minutes actual work in total!

to make it healthier, omit the sausage and either have it on it's own or add some fish at the end.

serves a hungry 2

ingredients

• 2 cups white beans (not sure what kind i used)
• potato
• tomato
• celerey stick
• bundle of fresh herbs-- rosemary, thyme, parsley, anything goes!
• 2 cloves garlic
• optional-- 4 sausage links
• s & p
• 4 handfuls fresh spinach leaves
• parmasean

to do

1. soak beans night before
2. put beans in pot and add enough water so the beans come up half of water level
3. boil the following until beans are soft (about 1.5 hr): beans, potato (maybe cut in half), tomato, garlic (skinned and whole), herb bundle, celery, sausages cut into thick slices
4. discard herbs and celery; may need to remove some water, depending on how liquidy you want it (we ate it on plates, but would be lovely as stew in bowls)
5. remove tomato, garlic and potato and mash with fork; return puree to beans and boil down the remaining liquid until nice consistancy
6. add s & p and spinach leaves until slightly wilted, remove from heat and serve!
7. parmasean would be great on top!