Cannellini Beans & Italian Sausage
Cannellini Beans & Italian Sausage


Ingredients
-
2
packages
(19 ounces each) JOHNSONVILLE® Mild Italian Sausages
-
2
cups
dried cannellini beans
-
10
fresh sage leaves (separated, and more for garnish)
-
1
medium
tomato, cored and halved
-
1/4
cup
Bertolli® Classico Olive Oil
-
3
cloves
garlic, minced
-
1
cup
onion, finely chopped
-
2/3
cup
carrots, finely chopped
-
2/3
cup
celery, finely chopped
-
1/8
teaspoon
red pepper flakes
-
2
cups
crushed canned plum tomatoes
-
1-1/2
teaspoon
salt
-
1/2
teaspoon
pepper
-
1-1/2
cups
chicken stock
-
1/3
cup
mascarpone cheese* (can substitute with cream cheese)
REVIEWS
Directions
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Place the beans in a large bowl with water, using your hand swirl the beans around to rinse them and discard any small stones or beans that look brown.
-
Drain the beans in a colander, rinse and refill the bowl with beans and a generous amount of water (at least 2 to 3 inches above the beans) and let soak overnight or for at least 6 hours.
-
Drain the beans, rinse well and place in a Dutch oven or large pot. Add 7 cups water, 5 of the sage leaves, the tomato halves and bring to a boil uncovered over med-high heat.
-
Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered until the beans are tender 1 ½ to 2 hours, be sure to test for doneness.
-
Drain and reserve the beans, discard the sage and tomato halves.
-
In a large sauce pan, heat Bertolli® Classico Olive Oil over medium heat. Add garlic, 5 remaining sage leaves, onions, carrots, celery, red pepper flakes and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes until the ingredients are soft and translucent.
-
Stir in the cooked beans and crushed tomatoes. Add the salt, pepper and the chicken stock.
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Stir together and simmer gently. When all ingredients are combined and warmed, stir in the mascarpone cheese until melted and evenly folded into the tomato and bean mixture.
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Add salt and pepper to taste.
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Cover saucepan to keep warm and turn off heat until ready to serve.
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Cook the sausage by braising or grilling.
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Once the sausages are cooked, transfer them to a cutting board and cut into halves or thirds.
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Transfer the warm beans to individual bowls and arrange sausage pieces on top.
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Garnish with a sprig of fresh sage.
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To serve 4 to 5, prepare the same recipe with 1 package of Johnsonville Italian sausage.
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* mascarpone cheese is a mild flavored, creamy Italian cheese and can be found in the specialty cheese section of most grocery stores.